SAN JUAN, Batangas -- Four people survived after a small boat ferrying them sunk while crossing from Barangay Tipaz, San Juan, Batangas to Barangay Bantillan Manggalang, Sariaya, Quezon on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 5.
Transport between the provinces of Batangas and Quezon has been limited due after the Bantilan Bridge connecting the two provinces collapsed during Tropical Storm Paeng’s onslaught.
The Bantilan Bridge was among the major infrastructure damaged by the storm.
Boatmen in the area rescued the four passengers of the boat which capsized as it was also laden with boxes of fish.
Village officials have ordered the operations of the said boats in the route in the aftermath of the incident. The boat involved in the incident was not not intended for ferrying people.
On Sunday morning, Nov. 6, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCGH) made an ocular inspection and allowed the boats with ‘katig’ or floaters on both sides to ferry passengers.
Also, the PCG also required the use of life vests for every passenger and urged the boat owners to install ‘katig’ to their boats to make them safer.