Boat capsizes off Guiuan shores, 50 passengers safe

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 18, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  All the fifty passengers of MB Grace which capsized on December 16 off the shores of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, are safe.

This was learned from the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council of Eastern Visayas through OCD Director Salvador Estudillo who is the Executive Director of the Council.

Director Estudillo said that MB Grace is owned and operated by Heritage Mining Corporation of Homonhon. The boat was navigating en route to Guiuan from Homonhon, when at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, it capsized at the vicinity of Sulangan due to big waves caused by strong easterly wind.

All the passengers, Director Estudillo said, were rescued by the personnel of the Philippine Coastguard Clearing Outpost in Guiuan who immediately responded to the emergency situation.

Although all the passengers were rescued and all accounted for, however, Director Estudillo said that the damage to property has not yet been determined as of press time.

The Heritage Resources Mining Corporation engaged in chromite is the only mining firm now operating in Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Sulangan is a barangay of Guiuan which is a favorite pilgrimage site because of its miraculous St. Anthony de Padua.

Located at the southernmost tip of the third largest island in the archipelago, the municipality of Guiuan is widely known for two significant events in history 423 years apart.

In 1521, Magellan set foot on Philippine soil in a small island southwest of the town.

On October 17, 1944, the landing of American Army Rangers in Suluan Island in Guiuan overrun a Japanese garrison in that island. This signaled the start of the liberation of the Philippines.