By Ephraim Aguilar
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 13:28:00 11/06/2008
INQUIRER.net
LEGAZPI CITY -- The sea tragedy involving the MB Don Dexter Cathlyn, which capsized Tuesday off Masbate province killing at least 42, has prompted the British embassy to issue a travel advisory warning its tourists of inter-island travel risks in the country.
"Inter-island travel by small boats can be dangerous as storms appear quickly," the advisory posted on the embassy's website Wednesday night said.
The same advisory underscored "terrorism in Mindanao and a high incidence of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around the Philippine waters."
The motorized boat was on its way to Bulan, Sorsogon, when struck by a sudden squall which caused it to overturn and toss its passengers into the sea.
Senior Superintendent Reuben Sindac, Masbate police director, had said that 119 passengers were officially recorded. But a list sent to Philippine Daily Inquirer Southern Luzon by Captain Henry Caballero of the Coast Guard in Bicol showed that there were 42 dead, nine missing, and 100 survivors, for a total of 151.
"You should be aware that maritime rescue services in the Philippines may not be as comprehensive as they might be in the UK," the advisory added.
Authorities are investigating if the motorized boat was overloaded as claimed by survivors and as shown in the discrepancy between the PCG list and the passenger manifest.
Coast Guard officials said transportation undersecretary Elena Bautista was in Masbate Thursday morning meeting with the boat owner and concerned government agencies.
Maria Ong-Ravanilla, Bicol tourism director, said foreign embassies would normally issue travel advisories but these were not seen to affect tourist arrivals.
She said small vessels like MB Don Dexter Cathlyn were not the facilities for tourists.
"We have bigger passenger ferries and roll on-roll off [ro-ro] port facilities, we advise tourists to take them instead," Ravanilla said by phone.
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