Authorities recently rescued 37 fishermen stranded in Balabac, Palawan while on their way to the West Philippine Sea.
The fishermen onboard F/V Andrei Sarah left San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Jan. 18.
BRP Datu Pagbuaya of the BFAR.
They encountered rough seas and engine failure and the boat proceeded to a calmer area between Balabac and Tawi-Tawi to reach Liminangcong, Taytay, Palawan for repairs.
However, the vessel struck a reef and broke into half near Onok Island in Balabac at 4 a.m. on Jan. 29 and capsized.
The incident was reported to a Coast Guard detachment in Onok Island and the Coast Guard Station in Balabac sent immediate assistance.
A Coast Guard vessel arrived and rescued the 37 crew. The fishers and their equipment were taken to the Coast Guard Station in Balabac.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Coast Guard, deployed two multi-mission offshore vessels on Friday, Jan. 31, to ferry them.
BFAR vessels Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003) and BRP Datu Bankaw (MMOV 3004), fresh from a resupply mission for fishermen in the vicinity of Guntao Island in El Nido, Palawan and Bancalan Island in Balabac, ferried 32 of the 37 stranded crew back to their homeport.
The remaining five, including the master fisherman and boat mechanic, stayed behind in Balabac to check salvaged fishing gears.
The 32 fishers received provisions and medical assistance upon their arrival at Port of Caminawit in Occidental Mindoro.