The fishermen San Fernando town in Romblon province has urged the Sulpicio Lines to immediately scoop out the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars from the waters of Sibuyan Island. They come together at the coast of Barangay Taclobo and held a programme first before they took turns in sailing around the capsized passenger vessel on board at least 60 fishing boats.
They hold placard which said ‘take your vessel, your vessel is harming the livelihood of the people of San Fernando. The capsized boat M/V Princess has been on the waters off Sibuyan Island for 19 days. It is said that decomposing bodies, and possibly, harmful chemicals are trapped inside the ship. It is also said that the ship was sank last June 21 at the height of Typhoon Frank with more than 800 passengers and a 10-metric ton shipment of pesticide endosulfan on board.
The endosulfan shipment is bound to the Del Monte Philippines, Inc. According to the officials the shipment also contains pesticides, kilos of finished products for crop production, which may also be harmful to marine and human life in the province. Due to the presence of the toxic chemicals the Department of Health has put a ban on fish from San Fernando town.
Fishermen are idle in the town and they are pleading for help as their food supply has started to dwindle. The Sulpicio Lines had said that it will refloat the capsized ferry to recover the bloated bodies and the chemical shipments. But refloating takes three to six months and the woes of fishermen are not ending by such explanation.
