MALAY, Aklan – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reminded swimming and paddlers associations to observe safety measures when venturing out into the sea after seven members of a dragon boat team died in an accident in Boracay Island.
Lieutenant Commander Marlowe Acevedo of the PCG-Caticlan said the unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the team alerted the PCG that it was conducting training on Sept. 25.
“Sa pagkakaalam natin, every year ginagawa nila ang training. We expect na marunong silang lumangoy o may kaalaman sa paglangoy dahil sa nature ng kanilang activity. Wala tayong impormasyong natanggap na nandoon sila bago ang insidente,” Acevedo added.
The team was training in the waters of Bulabog beach for the Kaohsiung Taiwan Cup scheduled in November.
Acevedo said that if the PCG was informed about the activity, its personnel could have assessed the safety of venturing out into the sea before the group headed out.
“Sana nabigyan natin sila ng guidance or assessment kung safe ang dagat at na-check ang kanilang mga kagamitan,” he added.
Initial investigation showed paddlers have no life vests when their boat capsized about 200 to 300 meters from the shoreline of Lingganay Resort in Sitio Tulubhan in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.
The 20 paddlers and a steerman managed to swim through rough torrents and hold on to the boat, but only 14 survived.
“Napuno ng tubig ang bangka dahil sa laki ng alon. Ang mga paddlers ay kumapit sa bangka ngunit sa laki ng alon, napahiwalay ang mga ito sa bangka,” Acevedo said.
“Ang pakay ng ating imbestigasyon ay hindi maghanap kung sino ang may kasalanan. Kailangang matukoy natin ang katotohanan sa nangyari,” he added.
The survivors were identified as team leader Von Navarosa, Janice Lumbo, Yhen Aytona, Jaylord Violanda, Edwin Paradai, Marc Sabadao, Lanie Ordas, Kenneth Bandalan, Robel Licerio, Jao Javier Buenaventura, Kathleen Sabadao, Mark Baccay, Julia Kurbaniizova (a Russian), and Maggie Xie (a Chinese).
Acevedo said the survivors were in good condition when they were released a few hours after receiving medical treatment in hospitals and a medical clinic in Boracay.
He added Navarosa, one of the survivors, was brought to a hospital in Kalibo and was still undergoing treatment.
Seven members of the team were declared “dead on arrival” at the Metropolitan Doctors Clinic in Balabag.
They were Mark Vincent Navarette, Johann Tan, John Vincent Natividad, Comar Acob, Richel Montuya, Rose Antonette Supranes and Johann’s wife Maricel.
Boat trips have resumed from Caticlan jetty port to Cagban port in Boracay Island.(With a report from Akean Forum/PN)