By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Sea vessels have resumed their operations in Antique following the lifting of the stoppage order by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) due to improved weather condition on Thursday.
PCG Antique Station Commander Perlita Cinco said that effective Thursday morning, passenger vessels and fishing boats had been allowed again to venture out to sea.
“The passenger sea vessels and fishing boats’ operation have now resumed,” Cinco said.
She noted that vessels that have resumed their operation are the Argo 2 and 3, which have an estimated capacity of 200 persons each. They regularly transport passengers from Libertad to Caluya Mainland every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Another passenger boat, Kalayaan, will also depart from Semirara Island in Caluya on Friday. It transports passengers Friday and Monday from Semirara to Mindoro.
The Philippine Coast Guard sent out advisories to boat operators last Monday evening banning sea travel, in anticipation of the adverse effect of Tropical Depression Samuel that placed Antique and the rest of Panay Island under Tropical Storm Warning Signal No. 1.
Cinco, however, said that despite their advisory, they received a report that two fishermen — Leomer Baldivia, 31, and Lawrence Cordova, 40, both residents of Barangay San Pedro in San Jose de Buenavista, failed to return home after sailing out to sea last Monday, Nov. 19.
“Our Coast Guard personnel immediately conducted search and rescue (SAR) operation upon receiving the report today,” Cinco said.
She said relatives of the missing fishermen are also helping out in the SAR operation, which is still ongoing as of this writing.
The fishermen on board a white and green vessel are believed to have gone fishing approximately 20 miles from the shorelines of Barangay San Pedro.
