10 remain missing in Masbate sea mishap

[jh4ypee]

MANILA, Philippines – Authorities on Wednesday resumed their search and rescue operations for 10 missing passengers that boarded the ill-fated MB Don Dexter Cathlyn inter-island ferry that capsized off Masbate province Tuesday.

In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Masbate Provincial Police chief Senior Superintendent Reuben Sindac said as of 9:30 a.m Wednesday, 10 people remain missing while the number of fatalities remains at 40. Sindac added 100 passengers survived the incident.

Sindac said the owner and captain of the vessel will face charges since the overloaded MB Don Dexter Cathlyn left port without the required clearance from local Coast Guard officials.

The ship's manifest listed 119 passengers and a crew of six on board, though ferries frequently carry more people than are officially listed. Sindac said the maximum capacity of the ship was only 100, but it left the port with more than 150 people on board.

Earlier in the day, the Philippine Coast Guard also deployed its rescue vessel SAR-004, a helicopter and an Islander fixed-wing plane to conduct the search.

The MB Don Dexter Cathlyn was battered shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island for nearby Sorsogon province Tuesday.

Sindac told dzBB radio Tuesday that the vessel had been sailing in relatively clear weather.

Police officer Roy Almine, who helped in the rescue, said huge waves and strong monsoon winds suddenly hit the boat, causing it to overturn and tossing passengers into the sea.

"There was some kind of whirlwind," Sindac said.

"There was no rain, no typhoon; the waters were calm when it happened. The ferry was not passenger-friendly. There were high railings and tarpaulin on the side so when the vessel overturned, these may have helped to trap the passengers," he added.

PO2 Bernardo Pajalla Jr of Masbate police identified the fatalities as of 10 p.m. Tuesday as:

1. Michelle Ramirez, 1
2. Ritchinel Andaya, 3
3. Nathaniel Andaya, 6
4. Maricel Ornopia, 30
5. Silvina Gabriel, 58
6. Auria Pasas, 66
7. Rosalie Atabay, 26
8. Rosalina Atabay, 50
9. Crisilda Atabay, 7
10. Cizzia Atabay, 6
11. Joy-joy Atabay,6
12. In-in Nueva, 16
13. Grace Capellan, 48
14. Larganie Capellan, 5
15. Lean Capellan, 2
16. Teresita Abejuela, 40
17. John Paul Abejuela, 6
18. Nenita Matos, 36
19. Charlene Leastardo, 19
20. Jimmy Banaag, 22
21. Filipina Anman, 66
22. Ana Nerbis, 59
23. Consolacion Baybayon, 78
24. Lanie Mahinay, 18
25. Sonia Cordera, 40
26. Adelina Adobas, 74
27. Reynaldo Arcueno, 42
28. Jennifer Mantal, 34
29. Nerie Badillo, 44
30. Jessica Marsonia, 36
31. Benita Hermosa, 67
32. Olympio Blaso, 64
33. Rosalina Pilapil, 50
34. Marichu Apao, 5
35. Parcy Abenir, 6
36. Salud Abenir, 65
37. Rossie Belarmino, 57
38. Marilyn Lleness, 43
39. Christian Ramos, 4
40. Francisca Rondina, 50

[Greg Salivio]

Thanks jh4ypee sa post mo at least naaaram naton ang mga news sa masbate kag kon nano man an mga nangyari sa aton.

In behalf of our forums members our deepest symphathy sa mga victims.
God Bless!.

[joeldnunez]

I used to take the dimasalang-bulan route when I was still in college in Manila everytime I go home in my hometown Uson. Actually there was one time we got stranded in Bulan and waited for 3 days due to typhoon to travel to dimasalang. Still after 3 days when we travelled, waves were shaking our boat and pouring waters into us. After that, I realized that if the "Katig" broke even during mild waves, we are gone unless there are enough life jackets (if you have still time to wear). Now I am not considering wooden boat anymore. Fast craft to pilar would be the best option. Airplane is risky too because since we have short air strip, commercial jet flights like PAL with good record of safety and maintenance can not land. Unless emergency, I am not considering going home to masbate from manila by airplane. Oh, the plane fare is high. If you go to cebu now by PAL, the one way fare is just about Php 1,600 or PhP 3,200, two-way. The lucena/dalahican pier route has become risky to my mind also, due to the incident before "fire at sea" of montenegro lines boat. Many died. There is a plan to build another strip but not yet finalized. I heard, my barangays Quezon and Badling were surveyed for possible location of this new air strip due to availability of a wide flat terrain because it is hard to find an ideal wide flat terrain in masbate.
Overall, despite the transport difficulty, masbate is a good place to live as long as you have source of income. Less populated, cheaper fish and meat, cheap sea foods, ect. Hope masbate can have a good air strip. Legaspi has its own good air strip already. Mabuhay Rodeo Masbateño!!

[Greg Salivio]

Thanks Joel for your post and welcome to our forum.

I agree with your experience, every time I read a news about poverty and disaster in masbate island I feel helpless,
I hope someday that people in politics and officials will concentrate for a better transportation and livelihoods in masbate,
we have the finest island its in the center of the Philippines, we can attract a lot of tourist and have a good tax income.

I just hope that one of us can make a difference, that someday masbate city will be the NO 1 tourist spot in the Philippines.

I’m just concern about the poverty level in the island. I’m glad that we are improving;
I found out in National Statistical Coordination Board that we are now ranked 10th from rank 3 in 2003.

Among provinces of Bicol, Masbate remained the poorest having one poor family for every two families in 2006. Masbate and Camarines Norte however, were the only provinces that exhibited decreases in poverty incidence in 2006. Masbate, which ranked third poorest province in 2003, ranked eighth poorest in 2006. Among provinces with largest improvements in poverty incidence, Camarines Norte and Masbate ranked fourth and tenth respectively with the former having a 7.7 percent decrease in poverty incidence between 2003-2006 and the latter, a 4.9 percent decrease in poverty incidence during the same period.

Mabuhay Rodeo Masbateño!!

[habbe]

Hi,

I am from southern part of Masbate, I was so greatful while am visiting this site!!! People from Masbate can actually communicate through this, that was awesome....

I just want to share my views about the tourist potential of Masbate.... I am actually from Esperanza, its about 4 hours to travel from the city with approximately half of distance was still rough road after the town of Cataingan... My town was remain virgin in terms of economic development, most people are living in coastal areas where majority of them are fisherfolks......Before, we dont have acccess with clean water, electricity & transportation. During those days riding in transportation like jeepney is in only a dream until such time that I decided to go here in Manila to find a job.....Despite of all this things, I am still proud of what & where I came from......we were blessed by God with white beaches, crystal clear water and lotta natural beauty that I can say to the world that " Hey! Am very proud of who I am". Ive gone some beaches like Boracary, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon Province & Zambales but thanks God we blessed to have that beach in Esperanza that can absolutely compete with the rest of the world..

When I was a kid, several occations there were tourist from Swetzerland & Sweden come to our town and enjoy swimming with our crsytal clear water & white beaches. But, sad to say...they cant stay any longer because lack of facilities like Hotel, Resto, Bar & other aminities that most tourist considered it is most important things to them!!!

What are major and related problem contributed why the rest of Masbate remains undevelop are as follows....

1. Political instability
2. Corruption
3. New Peoples Army
4. Leaders are lack of knowledge & many other things.

As a Masbatenos, I am so greatful if theres any other people like me who can make a diffent... People that willing to come together and work to develop plan how to help our HOME PROVINCE to be the best province....

Please, send me an email @ habbe_7485@yahoo.com if you willing..... Love Your Province!!!