Lobregat lauds sectors’ aid in Superferry crisis
Mayor Celso Lobregat and Senator Manuel Villar are being briefed by Police Regional Director Gen. Angelo Sunglao regarding the arrival of the first batch of rescued passengers at the local port Sunday afternoon. (CALOY BANDAYING)
Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday said the support and assistance extended by government and private sectors during the Superferry 9 crisis Sunday resulted to an orderly and successful relief operations for surviving passengers of the ill-fated commercial vessel.
Lobregat, who ably led the relief operations as chairperson of the City Disaster Coordinating Council, said the full cooperation and support of all sectors made the relief operations a systematic and well organized task.
Relatives of Superferry 9 passengers from Ilo-ilo yesterday morning expressed gratitude to Mayor Lobregat and the city government for the assistance extended to their families.
“Everything is taken cared of even if the incident happened outside Zamboanga territory. We provide whatever assistance we can give,” the mayor, who stayed up until early dawn Monday to personally supervise the relief operations at the port area’s terminal 2 where the rescued passengers were brought from the rescue site.
Lobregat mobilized all resources Sunday to assist rescued passengers of Superferry 9 which sank off Siocon Bay some six hours after it tilted Sunday morning reportedly due to mechanical problems.
Super ferry 9, with over 900 passengers on board, was heading for Ilo-ilo from General Santos City when it listed off the seas of Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte around 2 a.m. Sunday, September 6. It sank past 8 a.m. or some 6 hours after.
The city government provided immediate relief assistance such as water, food, clothing, slippers and other stuff.
Mayor Celso Lobregat and Regional Police 9 Director Gen. Angelo Sunglao jointly convene the Regional and City Disaster Coordinating Councils to discuss contingency plans in the light of the Superferry 9 tragedy Sunday at the local port’s Terminal 2 where the survivors were brought in from the rescue site. (CALOY BANDAYING)
Lobregat together with Police Regional Director Gen. Angelo Sunglao jointly convened the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) and the City Disaster and Coordinating Council (CDCC) right at the port area’s Terminal 2 Sunday to discuss contingency plans in the light of the sea tragedy.
Among the agencies that provided support during the relief operations were the members of the RDCC and CDCC, the Philippine National Red Cross-Zamboanga Chapter, Philippine National Police, Tzu Chi Foundation, City Health Office, Department of Health, Stop Death group of the Zamboanga City Medical Center, the business sector, civic oriented groups and other sectors.
The rescue operations were done by the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy personnel.
The full force of the City Social Welfare Office under Francisco Barredo took charge of the operations in coordination with the other agencies. Based on CSWDO records, 793 passengers including the 6 fatalities were brought to Zamboanga City.
Of the 793---448 including 2 fatalities were ferried on board MV Myriad; 256 were transported through MV Integrity; 23 including 4 fatalities were brought by MV Julius; 26 by MV Sierra and 40 by navy vessels.
The Bacolod Superferry 5 transported 174 people including 3 fatalities directly to Bacolod from the rescue site in Siocon.
Total number of accounted passengers including the casualties is 967 while over 50 others remain missing.
The passengers were temporarily housed in local hotels and pension houses while the fatalities lied in state at the La Merced Funeral Homes.
Meanwhile, at least half of the rescued passengers who were brought to Zamboanga headed back to Ilo-ilo and Manila yesterday on board Superferry 1 and Superferry 5. The others are expected to head back to their places of origin last night or early this morning via bus services.
Barredo said the Aboitiz Transport System (ATS), owner of the sunken Superferry 9 has committed to pay all the expenses incurred for the hotel accommodation, food and other incidentals including the passengers’ valuables and belongings lost during the tragedy subject to some guidelines. (Sheila Covarrubias)