PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) personnel rescued 13 crew members of a fishing vessel that sank off Calatagan town in Batangas last Sunday, the PCG reported yesterday.
In a statement, the PCG said the ill-fated vessel, Anita DJ II, owned by Irma Fishing, figured in the mishap some seven nautical miles from Cape Santiago, Barangay Bagong Silang in Calatagan.
The PCG said it received information about the incident from the mother of one of the crew members who reported their vessel was in distress.
The PCG dispatched BRP Bagacay to conduct a search and rescue operation and spotted the half-submerged fishing vessel at 1:35 p.m. The vessel eventually sank at 3:17 p.m.
The fishing vessel came from Navotas and was on its way to fishing grounds in Palawan when the mishap occurred.
The rescued crew members were brought to the Coast Guard Sub-Station Calatagan, where personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office provided them with medical assistance. They were not identified.
The PCG has coordinated with the Calatagan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to prepare available oil spill booms to contain a possible oil slick.
It said it has also made coordination with tourism officials to inform resort owners and barangay officials to be vigilant against a possible oil spill.
The PCG said it has also coordinated with oil companies to assist.
PCG personnel also rescued two fishermen whose fishing boat encountered engine trouble off San Agustin town in Romblon last Sunday.
Rescued were Bryan Madeja and Ronie Panuga, whose boat figured in a mishap between Barangay Cobrador Island and Sugod in San Agustin.
Acting on information provided by relatives of the fishermen, PCG and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council personnel were deployed and successfully rescued the fishermen.
The fishermen left Barangay Agnipa in Romblon town in Romblon last Sunday morning to fish.
While heading home in the afternoon, they encountered engine trouble and caused their boat to drift 1.5 nautical miles off Barangay Sugod in San Agustin where they were rescued.
The fishermen were in good physical condition and have been turned over to their families.
