Capitol food packs arrive in Pilar
Special permit for ro-ro to ply Tudela-Pilar-Ormoc route
Food packs arrived in Pilar, Camotes yesterday after the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) issued a special permit for a bigger vessel, a roll-on, roll-off vessel, of Jomalia Shipping Corp. to ply the Tudela-Pilar-Ormoc City route.
Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandez Jr. said over radio dyLA that he asked the shipping company to provide daily trips to Ormoc because no motorboats were allowed to sail after the MB Kim Nirvana accident where more than 60 people were killed.
Pagasa also issued a gale warning which suspended vessels below 250 gross tonnage from sailing.
The warning has been in effect for eight days resulting in a shortage of basic goods in Pilar and Tudela towns which usually get their supplies from Ormoc City on board motorboats.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) sent 500 food packs yesterday to Pilar town to ease the food shortage after boat trips were canceled because of the gale warning.
Marirose Lopez, social welfare officer, said a five-man team traveled aboard the Jomalia Shipping vessel to the town to distribute the food packs.
The food packs were sent to the town after Pilar and Tudela towns’ social workers informed them Wednesday that the townspeople were running out of food.
Lopez said they are set to deliver 1,600 food packs to Pilar town today and another 1,600 more tomorrow if the truck that will carry the food packs will be available.
Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandez Jr. confirmed that his constituents are running out of food and other supplies.
He said he was able to borrow 102 sacks of National Food Authority rice from Tudela Mayor Erwin Yu.
The first shipment of 47 sacks were distributed to the retail outlets of the town while the second shipment of 55 sacks was stocked by the town for emergency purposes.
However, Fernandez said supplies of other basic goods will only last for three more days.
In Tudela, Mayor Yu said the cancellation of motorboat trips has affected 1,400 fisherfolk of the town.
Meanwhile, Romeo Danganan, operations manager of Jomalia Shipping Lines, said that the management had planned on establishing a regular Tudela-Pilar-Ormoc and vice-versa route to help the people there.
He said the company is in the process of applying for a permanent certificate of public convenience (CPC) as the special permit is only good for one month.
MV Mica Mari (which currently serves the Consuelo, San Francisco-Danao City route) will serve the daily Tudela-Pilar-Ormoc route (in the morning) and Ormoc-Pilar-Tudela in the afternoon.
Mica Mari is a 271-gross tonnage vessel with a 223-passenger capacity. Since it is a ro-ro type vessel, it can accommodate wheeled cargo.
If the gale warning will not be lifted, Fernandez said, the last recourse is to ask the Philippine Navy or Coast guard to send a vessel that will bring the residents to
Ormoc City or request the Philippine Air force to deliver goods to the town.
Fernandez said he may also ask DSWD to provide relief goods if it is still necessary.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
