6 students saved as school-bound boat capsizes in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Barangay folks and members of local environment watch group Bantay Dagat on Wednesday rescued six elementary pupils after strong sea waves overturned the pumpboat ferrying them to a school in Datu Blah Sinsuat town in the province.

The children- Amraida Ali, Asmia Ayunan, Raida Daud, Vivian Akmad, Sara Bagarian at Jehad Guianalan- were on their way to their seaside school in Barangay Matuber from a fishing village in the same town when their pumpboat was struck by big waves.

“We are thankful to the barangay folks that immediately rescued them one after another using smaller motorized bancas they use for fishing,” said Jamar Kulayan, education secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Kulayan, citing a report by the district schools supervisor of Datu Blah Sinsuat municipality, said the children were immediately excused from their classes after having been returned to their homes by barangay officials.

“We’d like to prevent a repeat of that sea mishap by putting up more school buildings in coastal towns,” Kulayan said.