Pilar survivors scared to ride vessel home
SURVIVORS of the capsizing of the MB Kim Nirvana-B who were supposed to go home to Pilar, Camotes Island yesterday declined to do so after being traumatized by Thursday’s mishap.
Pilar Major Jesus Fernandez said the survivors were still afraid to sail because of the rough seas, and backed out.
Fernandez said he contacted one of the survivors, Municipal Councilor Wilo Angus who also asked other survivors if they were willing to board the big Coast Guard vessel that would bring them to Pilar from Ormoc.
They declined for now, out of fear. Fernandez said he can understand the feeling of the survivors who were traumatized by the accident.
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If the weather clears, Fernandez said the survivors will travel today.
Reality
Fernandez said they hope the cadavers will be brought back to the island as soon as possible.
He said the longer the bereaved are kept from their loved ones’ remains, the more anxious and depressed they will become.
“We are doing everything we can,” Fernandez said.
Expenses
He said eight personnel from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) were conducting stress debriefing for families.
Families of the fatalities will receive P10,000 each as burial assistance while the survivors will get P2,000 for hospitalization expenses, said the mayor.
The town will also shoulder the cost of transporting survivors and the remains of the fatalities to their homes.
The Pilar municipal council declared a state of calamity following the tragedy, allowing access to the town’s disaster funds.
The mayor said the assistance will be sourced from the town’s savings of P800,000.
“Other expenses will be shouldered by our disaster fund,” he said.
Mayor Fernandez ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff in Pilar.
He said flags will be hoisted to full mast once all the dead are buried.
Three more bodies were recovered by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday.
Search and recovery operations persisted despite the gale warning issued by the state weather bureau Pagasa last Friday.
“If we don’t get any more bodies tomorrow (Sunday), then I will decide to terminate the operation,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Big waves prevented rescue workers from bringing the cadavers back to Camotes Island.
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Yesterday, waves were even bigger and the winds were stronger compared to when the boat capsized.
Vessels below 250 gross tonnage were still prevented from sailing.
“As long as there is a gale warning from Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), we won’t allow small vessels and even fishing boats to sail,” said Commander Rodolfo Villajuan, PCG Cebu Station chief.
At least 25 vessels in Cebu have voluntarily canceled their trips.
Canceled
Among those stranded at Pier 1 yesterday were 34-year-old Loraine Pido and her American boyfriend.
They were supposed to travel to Tagbilaran City in Bohol for a vacation only to be told that fast ferries were barred from sailing.
“We already bought tickets. But if fast ferries are not allowed to sail, then we might as well get a refund for the canceled trip,” said Pido, a resident of Lahug, Cebu City.
“With this kind of weather, I’m also afraid to travel. We better return home,” she added.
The habagat (southwest monsoon), which brings heavy rains, along with tropical storm Egay have contributed to the bad weather.
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