Manila Bulletin Online 7/2/08 12:27 PM PRINT | CLOSE WINDOW MAIN SUNKEN VESSEL TO BE REFLOATED Thursday, July 3, 2008 To retrieve bodies and shipment of toxic pesticide Refloating considered ‘safest option’ Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Ma. Elena Bautista, head of the task force for the MV Princess of the Stars, said yesterday that the government and the vessel’s owners Sulpicio Lines, Inc., have agreed to refloat the ship instead of cutting through it to retrieve the bodies of passengers still inside the capsized vessel as well as a shipment of toxic pesticide. The task force is in charge of the search and rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation operations as well as assistance to survivors in capsizing of the passenger ferry off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province at the height of typhoon "Frank" last June 21. Bautista said this was agreed upon by the government and the ship’s owners during a Cabinet meeting in Iloilo last Tuesday. Refloating the vessel is the "safest option" as the cargo of endosulfan pesticide is in the "innermost part of the ship," she said. She added, however, that the process may take two to three months. Sulpicio Lines, Inc., by weekend should have already hired a private company that will do the salvage operations, Bautista said. The process to refloat the vessel should start at the soonest time possible because of the danger posed by the 10-metric ton shipment of endosulfan owned by Del Monte Philippines, Inc., which might leak off the coast of Romblon, she added. Sulpicio Lines had earlier hired the firm Subsea Services to bore a hole on the ship’s hull to retrieve the endosulfan shipment. Divers of the private firm on Tuesday got a sample of the water inside the ship to determine if it has been contaminated by the toxic chemical. Bautista asked Sulpicio Lines to disclose all the chemicals loaded in the capsized vessel as reports said Bayer Crop Science Philippines also had a shipment of chemicals loaded on the ship. The danger posed by the toxic endosulfan had earlier prompted the task force to suspend retrieval operations for the bodies of passengers so as not to endanger the lives of divers. The MV Princess of the Stars was carrying 724 passengers, 109 crew members, and 26 non-crew when it capsized, according to reports that reached the DoTC. "The refloating or salvaging of the Sulpicio vessel turned out to be the best option that government could take now in order to fast-track retrieval of the pesticide chemical-containing van and many more bodies inside the large ship," Undesecretary Bautista said before leaving Romblon for Cebu, where the President Arroyo, DoTC Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza, other members of the Cabinet were to meet local government officials of Cebu and Sulpicio Lines and other stakeholders in the maritime industry. The other day, British and Filipino diving experts, bringing equipment on board a tugbout of Subsea Services Company, attempted to cut out a portion at the hull but Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo said the divers headed by Christopher Kannaman of Britain told him it was not feasible. The MV Princess of heStars is a seven-story vessel, with a recreational area, a spacious restaurant, a swimming pool, an entertainment parlor, and other amenities for passengers and crew. It is now l hanging now precariously on an underwater cliff in San Fernando, Sibuyan Island, Romblon. According to a report from the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA), the distance from the cliff to the water’s surface 32 to 42 meters. http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080703128851_print.html Page 1 of 2 Manila Bulletin Online 7/2/08 12:27 PM The ship is hanging in a slanting position of 30 to 35 degrees, so that the lower part of the bow is partly above water. President condoles with victims’ families at Cebu Sports Center CEBU CITY – President Arroyo condoled with families of the victims of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy at the Cebu City Sports Center Wednesday. President Arroyo joined the families and relatives of the more than 800 passengers of the ill-fated ferry in a special mass at about 11 a.m. yesterday inside the crowded sports complex. "I am happy that the President has personally joined us here. But it’s a temporary happiness because my daughter-in-law and granddaughter remain missing until now," said Estrella Valdez. After the mass, President Arroyo talked to the relatives of the victims and listened to their stories, while government personnel handed out envelopes containing R10,000 cash to 30 confirmed kin of the victims. The President assured them that the government will do its best to give justice to victims. Local officials, led by Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, briefed the President on the relief operations and the progress in the identification of the 149 bodies that have been brought here. As this developed, the Bureau of Customs is set to donate several containers of seized used clothing to the victims of typhoon "Frank" through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but the move encountered some setbacks pending the issuance of a formal waiver of port storage and other charges by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). According to Port of Manila Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD) chief Orencio Baranda, several containers have already been lined up for delivery to DSWD through its duly designated representative. However, when the auction chief communicated with Asian Terminals, Inc., the port’s cargo handling contractor, he was informed that the waiver of storage charges requires the approval of the Office of the President. Manila International Container Port District Collector Atty. Adelina Molina had earlier turned over to the DSWD 40 forty-foot and two 20-foot containers of used clothing seized and forfeited by MICP in favor of the government. The collector assured the DSWD secretary that all possible cargo will be donated to the department pursuant to Joint Memorandum Order No. 1092 dated August 27, 1992, and the directives of the President to assist the victims of the typhoon. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr., Malou M. Mozo and Angie Chui) CBCP social action arm preparing relief packages for victims Aside from food items, personal items such as underwear and sanitary napkins are also included in the relief package that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA) is preparing to give to typhoon victims. According to Elvira Manalanzan, relief and rehabilitation coordinator of NASSA, they want to make their relief package complete by including the basic necessities. "We want to help them start a new life. But how can they start over if they don’t even have the basic necessities," she said in an interview. Manalanzan sad the relief packages contain various items depending on how severely affected the people in a particular area were. "If it’s manageable and their properties were not washed out, we give food items only," she said. Since the effect of the recent typhoon was so massive, hired workers of NASSA are now working double time to help the victims. The workers are filling the relief sacks with items procured by NASSA using money donated by various groups and individuals. Among the items are kitchen utensils, mats, mosquito nets, blankets, toiletries, candles, and food. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino) PRINT | CLOSE WINDOW http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080703128851_print.html Page 2 of 2.