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THE
management of Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) said the
confirmed number of survivors from the capsized Princess
of the Stars has reached 59, with 25 reported to have
landed on Burias Island.
The 25
joined the 34 already verified survivors from the
ill-fated vessel overturned by strong waves caused by
Typhoon Frank off Romblon in Central Philippines
Saturday.
In a
hastily called press conference in Cebu City Monday
afternoon, the shipping line’s spokesman Manuel Espina
said the company is still coordinating with the Coast
Guard in its search-and-rescue operation. SLI has sent
two tugboats near the area where the vessel was supposed
to have capsized to help look for survivors.
“Everybody is doing [his] share to look for survivors,”
Espina told the BusinessMirror.
The
number of confirmed fatalities still hovers around 26.
The rest of the 864 people onboard the ship, including
the 724 passengers, are still listed as missing. The
ship has a 2,000-passenger capacity.
The
company denied earlier reports that the relatives of the
passengers have been left unattended at the company’s
office in the port area of Cebu City. Espina said
personnel from the Red Cross, various government
agencies, telecom companies and the city of Cebu have
set up centers in the port area to attend to the
relatives.
“People
from DSWD are on stand by to provide counseling to the
relatives, while the Red Cross are there to provide
medical assistance,” Espina said.
He said
the company is committed to give P200,000 assistance to
each victim’s family.
“We have
set up our action center so we can attend to whatever
their needs are. Everything is under control,” Espina
said. He also called on the media to stop speculating on
the death toll and the cause of the sinking, as it will
only aggravate the situation of the victims more.
Sulpicio
Lines port captain Nestor Ponteres also denied reports
the vessel’s engine conked out in the middle of the sea,
saying this has no basis. |
