Bad weather strands supply ship in West Phl Sea

MANILA, Philippines - Bad weather in the West Philippine Sea has prevented the main supply ship from sailing to Kalayaan Island in the disputed Spratlys and basic provisions for civilian residents in the island are now running low.

Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. said the enhanced southwest monsoon had stranded municipal government-owned ML Queen Seagull supply ship in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan for several days now.

He said the Queen Seagull is loaded with food provisions and the ship will immediately sail to Kalayaan Island once the weather clears.

“Our municipal store is empty. We really need re-provisioning,” Bito-onon said.

He said that the town has some reserve stocks that consist of more than 30 bags of rice that the residents could use if bad weather persists.

He said the supply of milk and medicine for children is already running low.

Small business is beginning to flourish after a cooperative store was established in the island where civilians and soldiers can purchase basic commodities like sugar, cooking oil, medicine, coffee, and milk.

“Good for the adults, we have an emergency stock of rice but the children need milk and medicine,” he said.

The Philippine Navy (PN) transport vessels are usually the main supply ships to Kalayaan Island, and the town’s boat is used only if there is no available Navy cargo ship.

The islanders are now waiting for a Navy supply ship coming from Palawan.

The town’s Queen Seagull was supposed to sail from Puerto Princesa last week but bad weather has delayed the voyage.

Bito-onon said the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) had already cleared the Queen Seagull to sail for Kalayaan Island when the weather was still clear last week, but Kalayaan’s Vice Mayor Rosendo Mantes allegedly delayed the departure.

“Our boat was given clearance by Marina to sail provided that it carry only provisions needed in the town, but my vice mayor along with his bodyguard insisted on boarding our vessel,” Bito-onon claimed.

Bito-onon said Mantes, a retired soldier, and businessman Noel Osorio are challenging him for the mayoralty post in the 2013 elections.