Two Negrense fishermen rescued near Dumangas

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Two fishermen were rescued off the coast of Dumangas, Iloilo province, last Wednesday after being stranded for hours due to engine trouble with their fishing boat.

The rescued fishermen were identified as Roland Dominguez and Alfredo Vitar, both residents of Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Negros Occidental, said the fishermen had gone out to sea on Tuesday night in the waters off Guimaras and Pulupandan in Negros.

They were expected to return by 3 a.m. the following day, but their boat drifted, leaving them stranded for several hours.

Benjamin reported that the fishermen’s families became alarmed when they failed to return home, prompting them to seek assistance from the PCG.

Fortunately, another fishing boat spotted the stranded men in the Dumangas area and helped tow their boat back to Bacolod.

They safely arrived at 8 p.m. and have since returned home, according to Benjamin.