Philippines searches for 26 fishermen missing after storm

By Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Friday, June 10, 2011

Manila - Philippine Navy and Coast Guard vessels launched search and rescue operations Friday for 26 fishermen who went missing amid bad weather that left at least five people dead.

The fishermen went out to sea Tuesday despite heavy rains and strong waves and have not returned to their hometown in the north-western province of Pangasinan since then, the Office of Civil Defence said.

The agency said stormy weather had prevented authorities from immediately looking for the missing fishermen.

At least 13 provinces and the capital, Manila, were inundated after days of heavy rains brought by a low pressure area and a tropical depression.

More than 170,000 residents have been affected by the floods in six southern provinces since last week, the agency said.

The tropical depression, which has developed into a storm, has left the country and was moving toward Taiwan, forecasters said.

Monters and Critics

Navy, cops intercept tanbark shipment in Zambo City

Zamboanga Times, Friday, June 10, 2011

Philippine Navy operatives backed by policemen intercepted Wednesday a shipment of a truckload of tanbark at a private pier in this city, a Navy official announced Thursday.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) chief Commodore Armando Guzman said the confiscated tanbark was just unloaded from a vessel, M/L Marwiza, which docked at Wee Bin wharf in Barangay Baliwasan.

Guzman said the truck, which was about to leave the private port, was loaded with 310 sacks of tanbark.
“The tanbark is to be delivered to an undetermined warehouse somewhere in this city which is now being located by the joint Navy and Police operatives,” he said.
He said the harvesting of tanbark has been outlawed in the Philippines since this tree bark when removed kills the mangrove trees.

Mangrove trees are important to the environment since they provide many diverse species of birds, mammals, crustacea, and fish a unique irreplaceable habitat.
Guzman disclosed that tanbark is commonly smuggled to Malaysia and Indonesia and is highly valued as a source of organic dye used in making batik cloth.

zamboangatimes.ph

26 missing fishermen rescued off Bolinao in Pangasinan

By Philippine News Agency
Interaksyon, Friday, June 10, 2011

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - All the 26 fishermen earlier reported as missing when their fishing vessel sank on June 9 in the south China Sea were rescued Friday morning.

The crewmen of FV 3M Wolf, owned by Lucy Caranay of Masinloc, Zambales, were rescued by the combined Philippine Navy and Coast Guard at about 9:00 a.m. Friday.

This was based on the report relayed to the Police Provincial Office here by Wilfredo Castelo, Municipal Administrator of Bolinao town.

Also rescued were six other fishermen on board two light boats that were used as back ups of FV 3M Wolf when it was returning to the port of Bolinao. There were three fishermen in each boat, which drifted till they landed in two separate areas of Pangasinan.

One of the back up boats landed at 9:00 p.m. on June 9 at the Arena Point in Agno town and the other in Guiguiwanen, Bolinao, where the vessels were heading.

FV 3M Wolf was returning to Bolinao from a fishing expedition in the south China Sea when it met tropical depression "Dodong" while it was exiting in Pangasinan, causing it to sink 30 miles northwest of Bolinao.

A report of the Coast Guard said that at about 3:00 p.m. of June 9, the captain of the vessel, Dominiano Centeno, called them up and informed that their vessel was already sinking and was asking for rescue.

Rodrigo Caranay, operating manager of FV 3M Wolf, called on the Navy and Coast Guard for the immediate rescue of their vessels' crewmen.
The navy and coast guard mobilized their nearest floating assets with the aid of a helicopter in conducting immediate search and rescue operations.

interaksyon.com

Soldiers march under rain to practice celebration parade for 113 Years of Freedom

By PNA
Balita, Friday, June 10, 2011

MANILA, June 9 –- Although drenched in the rain dumped by tropical depression “Dodong,” soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) services held their rehearsal Thursday for the military-civic parade set on Sunday afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila in celebration of the 133 years of Philippine freedom and sovereignty.

“The AFP is in full participation as we rejoice together with the nation in commemorating the 113 years of our independence,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo S.L. Oban Jr. said.

Following Thursday's rehearsal at the AFP General Headquarters parade grounds in Quezon City, another practice parade will be held at the Quirino Grandstand on Friday. This is part of AFP’s participation in the series of events that will highlight the June 12 celebration.

On Sunday, soldiers composed of one battalion each from the Philippine Army, AFP General Headquarters, Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and Composite Enlisted Women, and two battalions from the Peacekeeping Contingent and 121 personnel from the AFP Band will join the Kalayaan (freedom) Grand Parade at the Quirino Grandstand.

There will be over 100 military personnel carrying the Philippine Flag and the AFP Colors which consist of the AFP units’ flags.

Rear Admiral Orwen J. Cortez will lead as the parading elements’ troop commander.

On the same day, the AFP Philippine Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Team will have an exhibition, to be followed by the PMA Silent Drill Company of Class 2013.

The AFP will also be conducting a free public concert dubbed as “Musikalayaan” or music for peace at the Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park, Manila on June 11, to be participated in by the uniformed bands of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Naval Construction Brigade.

“In the spirit of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, these activities exemplify our expression of great pride of our beloved country and to always bear in our mind the continuous pursuance of protecting the Filipino nation’s freedom and sovereignty,” Oban said.

balita.ph