Kin of missing can now get benefits

CEBU, Philippines - An official of 2GO management said that relatives of the 21 passengers still listed as missing after the sinking of the M/V St. Thomas Aquinas can now claim their benefits.

Lito Salvio, 2GO Group Inc. assistant vice president, announced this during the technical conference over the weekend.

Salvio said that the relatives can claim the benefits as long as they can present all the needed valid documents of their missing loved ones. Among the documents needed includes marriage contract where applicable, birth certificate, valid identification cards of the victim, among others.

The official death toll stands at 116 dead and 21 missing, 47 recovered bodies still remain unidentified. These were laid to rest at the Carreta Cemetery last month.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu Station commander Weniel Azcuna is also appealing for the retrieval of the missing bodies.

Though PCG-Cebu Station was not given any deadline, Azcuna said that the immediate salvage of the sunken ship is required.

Azcuna said that the siphoning operation was completed last September 24 and the oil taken from the sunken vessel is already with 2GO management for disposal.

The 2GO management said earlier that they had already spent over P55 million for the coastal rehabilitation and cleanup in Cordova.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 recently fined 2GO and the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. P41.7 million for environmental damage after oil from the sunken vessel ruined an estimated 443 mangrove plantations in 12 barangays in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.

DENR already sent demand letters dated last October 1 to PSACC Chairman of the Board Enrique Go and 2GO Group Inc. Chairman of the Board Francis C. Chua to settle the total amount of P41,704,600 on or before Nov. 15, 2013.

Tomorrow at 1 p.m., officials from both companies as well as the officials of DENR-7 will have a technical conference at the DENR Conference Hall in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City to discuss the said matter. Salvio said that they are willing to cooperate with DENR-7.  (FREEMAN)