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By Sammy Martin, Reporter
MEMBERS of the House of Representatives on
Monday took turns in grilling the chief of the Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration after
the management of Sulpicio Lines accused them of giving a weather
forecast, which the firm claimed led to the capsizing of the MV
Princess of the Stars off Sibuyan Island during the height of
Typhoon Frank.
Malacanang welcomed the congressional probe on
the sea tragedy and hoped it would improve maritime safety in the
country.
“Congress has [the] inherent power to conduct
investigation in aid of legislation and within this investigation
and authority, we hope that it could enhance further action plan to
be taken in light of the incident,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza
said.
Dr. Frisco Nilo, director of the weather bureau,
was placed on the hot seat after lawmakers learned that his agency
did not use its budget intended to purchase the needed equipment to
detect the movement of typhoons entering the country.
At the hearing of Joint House Committee on
Transportation and the House Committee on Oversight of Rep. Edcel
Lagman of Albay showed a document revealing the weather bureau was
given P149 million in 2005, P200 million in 2007 and P85 million in
2007, or a total of P434 million.
Nilo claimed they had difficulty awarding the
bid, because the bidders allegedly failed to meet the needed
requirements despite passing the prequalification bidding.
He claimed the weather bureau needed to purchase
three radars to detect the movement and the strength of the storms.
“Your honors, the equipment is forthcoming,”
Nilo told the joint committee.
More funding needed for weather equipment
The weather chief said that they still need the
help of Congress because at least P200 million more is required to
purchase another state-of-the-art equipment which he described as
digital and automated, and capable of giving a precise weather
forecast.
“We are still relying on [the] Japan weather
bureau to check and compare our forecast if it jives with their
findings,’ he said.
However, Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque asked
why the weather bureau needs a six-hour interval to issue weather
bulletins instead of three hours, which could have prevented the
latest sea tragedy.
Golez showed the copy of weather bulletin number
8 indicating Typhoon Frank was heading towards north-northwest in
Bicol and Quezon. However, the typhoon’s path changed and hit
directly the provinces of Cebu, Iloilo and Romblon, where the
ill-fated ship passed.
Golez said that if the weather bureau released
bulletin 9 three hours after they issued bulletin 8, the Princess of
the Stars might have been warned that the typhoon’s path changed
and will hits its route, giving the ship’s captain enough time to
take the precautionary measures.
Sulpicio to refloat capsized ship
In an earlier testimony, the management of
Sulpicio Lines said they are determined to refloat their ill-fated
ship, and have already gotten in touch with international salvage
companies for immediate action.
Maria Victoria Lim-Florido, spokesperson of
Sulpicio Lines, added that they are coordinating with government
agencies such as the National Disaster Coordinating Council and
Department of Transportation and Communications to ensure safe and
speedy recovery efforts.
She added they had set up two other crisis
response centers in Manila and Cebu to provide food, updates and
counseling to relatives of the victims in close coordination with
the Department of Social Services and Development.
At the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI),
seven more cadavers from the ill-fated vessel were identified but
their names were not made public.
NBI Anti-Graft Division chief Allan Contado said
that among 204 dead bodies brought to their laboratory,
investigators took sample tissues from 125 of them to undergo DNA
sampling, while only seven people have been identified.
Aside from DNA testing, the NBI is also
undertaking fingerprint and dental examinations to identify the
fatalities.
-- With Angelo S. Samonte and Ruben Manahan 4th
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