Vessel stalled in Siquijor waters

A CEBU City-bound passenger vessel of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines got stalled at the Siquijor sea for several hours since Monday midnight due to engine problem.

When the MV Trans-Asia 5 was towed by its sister vessel going to Cebu City yesterday afternoon, it was drifting towards the Mindanao area.

Lt. Robinson Madriaga, operations officer of the Coast Guard District Central Visayas, said the 626 passengers are safe. The vessel left Cagayan de Oro City at 3 pm last Sunday bound for Cebu City.

“One of the machine parts suddenly malfunctioned and they could not turn it on because it may cause further damage,” said Javier Llenos, Trans-Asia’s human resource management head and designated spokesperson of the incident. The ship was reported being towed back to Cagayan de Oro.

The vessel met engine trouble at seven to eight nautical miles east of Siquijor. Madriaga said the crew headed by Capt. Roman Gencono reported to the Coast Guard about their situation only at 6 am yesterday.

The Trans Asia shipping firm sent its sister vessel MV Asia Pacific at noon time and then later, two tugboats. At 2:30 p.m., Trans Asia 5 was towed by Asia Pacific with the two tugboats on each side.

Madriaga said the Coast Guard’s search and rescue vessel 002 BRP Pampanga accompanied the towing operation. He said the towing vessel and the towed vessel are located 30 nautical miles from Plaridel Misamis Occidental.

TALENT manager Annabelle Rama will face trial after the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office recommended the filing of estafa charges against her before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.

In his resolution, Asst. City Prosecutor Alex Gabud found sufficient basis to indict Annabelle who is accused of receiving money from her cousin Jose Vicente Rama Del Prado Jr. in exchange for two bouncing checks worth nearly P1.9 million.

But Gabud ordered the dismissal of the case of violation of Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 or the Anti-Bouncing Check Law against Annabelle.

He said the checks were deposited by the complainant beyond the 90-day period from the date appearing in the checks.

“We will consult our client and avail of all possible remedies,” Annabelle’s lawyer Earl Bonachita said.

THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) presented their proposal to build a septage treatment plant to the Cebu City Council last Wednesday.

MCWD general manager Armando Paredes told the Cebu City Council that their proposed septage treatment facility can service the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay.

He said they need a 2,000 to 3,000 square meter lot in the North Reclamation Area for the septage treatment plant.

Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 mandates local government units to appropriate land for construction of a sewage and/or septage treatment facility.