Iloilo PESO confirms 3 Ilonggos safe in ship incident

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) confirmed that three Ilonggo seafarers were among those rescued after a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel capsized in the South China Sea last week.

Provincial PESO manager Dr. Cynthia P. Dario said the three seafarers, who were reported safe, are from the municipalities of Janiuay, Estancia, and Barotac Viejo.

She said the identities of the Ilonggo seafarers were verified through coordination with overseas Filipino worker presidents, municipal PESO managers, and barangay PESO officers.

The incident involved the MV Devon Bay, which capsized on Jan. 23 while en route to Yangjiang, China.

The vessel was carrying iron ore and was about 55 nautical miles off Scarborough Shoal at the time of the incident.

All 21 crew members on board were Filipinos, according to initial reports.

Based on the latest official information, 15 crew members were rescued, two were confirmed dead, and four remain missing, including two seafarers believed to be from Negros Island.

One of the rescued crew members remains under emergency medical treatment, while the others are reported to be in stable condition.

Rescue operations were led by the China Coast Guard following a distress report, with both China and the Philippines deploying additional assets to search for the missing crew members.

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier confirmed it dispatched two vessels and two aircraft to assist in the search-and-rescue efforts.

Dario said the provincial government has yet to establish direct contact with the Ilonggo seafarers.

“They may still be in a state of shock, and we are waiting for updates regarding their condition and whereabouts,” she said.

She said the seafarers will be asked to report to the provincial PESO office upon their return to Iloilo for assessment and possible assistance.

Qualified beneficiaries may receive PHP 10,000 in financial assistance, but Dario emphasized that provincial support is not limited to cash aid.

“We will interview them to determine their needs so we can identify the appropriate assistance,” she said, citing Task Force Bulig Ilonggo, a provincial support mechanism established by the Iloilo provincial government.

Search operations for the four missing crew members remain ongoing as authorities await further updates from maritime agencies and the vessel’s operator.