Thirty-five passengers of three motorized boats that capsized in the territorial waters of Sagay and San Carlos in Negros Occidental, were rescued Sunday by the Philippine Coast Guard, Bantay Dagat personnel, and rescue volunteers.
Twenty-five of the passengers were rescued after their motorboats sank between the territorial waters of Molocaboc Island and Sagay City, initial reports of the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) showed.
The rescued passengers were brought to Brgy. Vito in Sagay, the city DRRMO reports added.
Three Bantay Dagat seaborne patrol boats, another one in Molocaboc Island, and three more boats from Brgy. Vito, all in Sagay City, joined in the rescue mission with volunteers and Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
The 10 passengers of a privately-owned motorized banca that capsized off the coast of Zone 1 in Brgy. 6, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, were also all accounted for, the PCG said.
The sinking of the motorized boats was attributed by the PCG to bad weather, that was triggered by localized thunderstorm.
The local trips between San Carlos City poblacion and Sipaway Island were immediately suspended after the incident.
The prohibition was later lifted upon the recommendation of the Hazard Monitoring Team and affirmed by the PCG-San Carlos City Substation and Task Force Bantay Dagat, after the weather condition improved.
But the PCG strictly enforced safety and precautionary measures, such as the wearing of life vests, and ensuring the no-overloading policy at all times.
San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo also placed the “Poseidon” rescue and patrol boat, and the Task Force Bantay Dagat personnel on alert status. | GB
