Another RORO vessel stalls off Surigao City
January 4, 2010A roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessel owned by Millennium Shipping Co. stopped dead in the water for three-and-a-half hours when its engine malfunctioned 30 minutes after it left Lipata Port in Surigao City 3 a.m., Saturday.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Armand Balilo said the maritime safety agency received reports that MV Millennium, carrying 45 passengers and 17 crew members, stopped sailing due to “diluted fuel supply” from the vessel’s main engine.
The RORO vessel, skippered by Capt. Aniano Ferolino, was supposed to sail to Liloan, Southern Leyte but was towed back to Lipata Port after the incident.
Balilo said the PCG had advised the ship captain to file a marine protest containing details of the maritime incident.
According to the PCG, a marine protest “is a declaration on oath by the master of the circumstances attending the damage or loss of his vessel, intended to show that the loss accrued by the perils of the sea.”
The document also serves as official record of a maritime incident, which is used by PCG as basis for determining whether the merchant officers and personnel of the ship should face liability or undergo investigation.
The PCG requires the submission of marine protest under the following circumstances: (1) actual physical damage to property exceeding P1,000 (2) material damage affecting seaworthiness of efficiency of a vessel (3) stranding, grounding, or sinking of the vessel or fire on board and (4) loss of life.
The maritime incident was the fifth since last month. MV Catalyn sank off Limbones Island in Cavite province on Christmas Eve, which left five dead and 22 others missing. [See: Accident prone areas at sea identified]
The sea tragedy was followed by the sinking of another RORO vessel, MV Baleno 9, off Isla Verde in Batangas last December 26, leaving at least six dead, and 44 others missing.
The third involved another RORO vessel, MV Starlite Navigator, that ran aground Wednesday night, December 30, also due to engine trouble.
Thirteen hours later, MV Torrejos, another passenger-cargo ship, stopped sailing after encountering strong winds that caused the vessel to drift and run aground after it left the Port of Lucena 11:45 p.m., Thursday. [See: Maritime safety not a priority in RP; coast guard struggles to stay afloat] - GMANews.TV (more…)
Surigao City spearheads skills training program
December 17, 2009The city government here once again showed its commitment to help its constituents alleviate from poverty through a skills training program.
December 11 marked the culmination of the three months training of the 34th batch consisting of 294 trainees of the Livelihood Training and Productivity Center (LTPC) managed and operated by the city government of Surigao. Given recognition during the graduation ceremony are the 32 NC II passers. Mr. Rodrigo de Villa, Provincial Director of TESDA explained the relevance of the National Certification (NC) II in terms of security of employment and as an entrepreneur.
Meanwhile, City Mayor Alfonso Casurra, in his commencement address, underscored the role of LTPC in the lives of the trainees composed of out of school youths, as well as unemployed college graduates and even former LGU officials. He acknowledged that the center still needs to upgrade its facilities to better serve the people. The limited resources of the city government did not pause any hindrance in delivering these types of services to the community. Mayor Casurra likewise encouraged whoever becomes the Mayor in 2010 to maintain and sustain the operation of the LTPC because of the significant role the center is playing in the lives of those who are in need of different livelihood skills.
Since the start of the operation of the training center in 1998, in partnership with the Helping Foundation Inc., around 10,200 have already graduated and a number are already engaged in their own businesses, while the others are already employed abroad.
Courses offered in the center are: basic and advance computer education, basic micro-computer repair/servicing, Shield Metal & Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten and Arc Welding, Gas Welding, Building Wiring Installation, Food Technology, Beauty Care, Sewing, Art and Sign, Handicraft and Basic Electronics, among others. (LTPC Administrative Head-LGU Surigao City/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Giants derail Realtors in Surigao del Norte
December 10, 2009Purefoods caught up with Sta. Lucia at fifth place halfway through the KFC PBA Philippine Cup double-round elimination phase as the Giants topped the Realtors, 68-63, in their out-of-town duel at the Robert Barbers Memorial Sports Center in Surigao del Norte last night.
The Giants outperformed the Realtors in a low-scoring game and forced a tie between themselves with identical 5-4 win-loss records going into the second round of play.
The second round starts today with Purefoods and Sta. Lucia trailing league leader Alaska (8-1) by three games, second-running San Miguel Beer (7-2) by two and joint third placers Talk n Text (6-3) and Ginebra (6-3) by one.
Alaska and San Miguel take on Barako Bull and Burger King, respectively, at the Ynares Arena in Pasig today.
The Aces walloped the Energy Boosters, 99-83, while the Beermen whipped Whoppers, 117-99, in their first-round meetings.
Burger King starts the second round at 3-6 while Barako Bull is tied with Rain or Shine at 2-7 with Coca-Cola at the bottom of the heap at 1-8.
The last placer after the two rounds misses the playoff phase in this all-Filipino tourney topped by Talk n Text last year.
The Purefoods breached the .500 mark halfway through the elims as the Giants sustained their win-loss-win-loss ride in the tourney, emerging triumphant in the Surigao del Norte stop of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour.
Kerby Raymundo and James Yap scored the first two baskets of the game and the Giants held on to the lead to the finish.
The Giants took the first quarter at 18-13, sat on a 33-26 cushion at halftime and roared to their biggest spread at 46-31 before completing the wire-to-wire win.
The Realtors came out flat from a six-day respite and suffered a first loss in their last three games.
Sta. Lucia ace guard Ryan Reyes struggled for only six points while key off-season acquisition Gabby Espinas went scoreless for the first time in an SLR
jersey.
Kerby Raymundo led the Giants with 15 points with Paul Artadi and Roger Yap adding 10 apiece. Kelly Williams paced the Realtors with 16. (Philstar) (more…)
P10-M projects for 3 remote Surigao areas
The NEDA and Army also reported that the completed KBP projects include a rehabilitated health center, two new health centers, three new school buildings, two potable water systems, and two farm-to-market roads.
These KBP projects have been implemented in the villages of Mabini, Sukailang and Mapawa, all of Surigao City.
The said projects were inaugurated on November 5 and 18 but was officially turned over to the local government unit (LGU) on Monday.
These KBP projects were implemented by the 544th Engineering Brigade of the AFP together with its partners from the NEDA-Caraga, provincial government of Surigao del Norte and the LGU of Surigao City.
The targeted beneficiaries of these projects were some 2,000 households of the said villages, said regional Army spokesman Maj. Mitchele B. Anayron Jr.
The ceremonies started with the blessing of the buildings officiated by the attending priests in that city.
This was followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony led by Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers, Surigao City Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra and assisted by the NEDA-Caraga Assistant Regional Director Cecilia L. Rosales, representing NEDA-Caraga Director Carmencita S. Cochingco, Lt. Col. Wenefredo O. Arceño of the 544th Engineering Brigade; 30th Infantry Battalion commander Lt Col. Cristobal N. Zaragoza, and other officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The village chieftains received the responsibility as the custodian of the said projects. (Manila Bulletin) (more…)
Surigao bishop is new CBCP head
December 2, 2009MANILA, Philippines - Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar formally assumed the presidency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday.
The 69-year-old bishop, a Canon Law expert, took over from Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo who completed two terms.
Odchimar is the 18th head of the bishops’ collegial body.
The CBCPNews reported that Odchimar served as the organization’s vice president during the term of Lagdameo from 2005 to 2009.
“As far as I am concerned I am aware of the work of the CBCP president. Activities of the CBCP are not a one-man activity but the decisions are collective,” the new CBCP president said.
He also promised to be more responsive to “urgent” issues affecting the Church and the country and would continue Lagdameo’s projects.
When asked to comment on the plan of President Arroyo to run for congresswoman in the second district of Pampanga, the newly appointed CBCP president merely said, “That is a political question. I prefer not to delve into that.”
Odchimar was born on Oct. 16, 1940 and was ordained as a priest on Dec. 19, 1964, spending most of his priesthood in Surigao province. (Philstar) (more…)
