DUMAGUETE CITY -- As Tropical Depression “Basyang” pummeled through the province of Negros Oriental on Tuesday, personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Sub-Station in Bais City rescued two fishermen while one is still missing after their motorized boat capsized in the seawaters in nearby Manjuyod town.
Lt. Junior Grade Donna Liza Ramacho, PCG-Negros Oriental chief and Dumaguete Coast Guard Station commander, identified the rescued fishermen as Noel V. Delgado, 49, the skipper of the motorboat and Dave Dante Cadalin, 19.
The missing fisherman was identified as a certain Warlito, a resident of Basay, Negros Oriental. He was described as around 50 to 60 years old, and between 5’3” to 5’6” in height.
An initial report from the Coast Guard said that at around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Manjuyod informed the Coast Guard that an unnamed motorboat capsized in the vicinity of the said town.
Coast Guard personnel from the nearest sub-station, located in adjacent Bais City, immediately proceeded to Manjuyod to conduct Search and Rescue Operations (SAR) despite the unfavorable weather and sea condition brought about by the storm Basyang, said Lt. Junior Grade Ramacho.
The Coast Guard personnel rescued the two fishermen hours later but at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, they temporarily called off the SAR operation due to heavy rain, rough seas, strong winds, and poor visibility.
In its incident report, the PCG here disclosed that the unnamed motorboat departed around 2 p.m. of Monday from Bolisong, Manjuyod to Malabuyoc, Cebu to deliver fish.
At around 10 a.m. the following day, or on Tuesday, the boat and the three fishermen set off to the sea again to return to their port of origin, but the vessel capsized about an hour later while already in the vicinity of Manjuyod.
The PCG resumed its search on Wednesday for the missing fisherman, according to Ramacho, who disclosed that they have deployed their water assets while coordinating with the PNP to alert coastal residents about the missing person.
They responded to a report that a body was found somewhere along the shores of Negros Oriental but it turned out to be a false alarm, she said.
Ramacho said that they would continue with the SAR operations Wednesday and would do a sweep of the Tañon Strait, which lies between Negros and Cebu provinces.
Meanwhile, the PCG here would be filing charges against the owner of the said motorboat in violation of its Memorandum Circular 02-13 or the "Guidelines on Movement of Vessels During Heavy Weather".
This clearly states that "no vessel of any type or tonnage shall be allowed to sail except as the situation may warrant, when Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) number 1 or higher is hoisted within its port of origin, intended route, and point of destination," said Ramacho.
Signal no. 1 was hoisted over Negros Oriental and other nearby provinces as early as Monday as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported that tropical storm “Basyang” was making its way here.
“Basyang” made landfall in Dumaguete City Tuesday evening before heading towards Palawan.
Sea travel to and from Negros Oriental resumed at 8 a.m. Wednesday after PAGASA lifted the storm warning signal. (PNA)
