Vessel loaded with 55,00 MT of nickel ore

GUIUAN, Eastern Samar– The refloating of a Chinese vessel carrying 55,000 metric tons of nickel ore that ran aground off Sulangan Island, this town, last April 19 would take some weeks to be completed.

This was disclosed by town Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan who said the refloating of the M/V Jhe Zai 168 is facing difficulties due to the strong current where it ran aground.
“The area where the M/V Jhe Zai 168 ran aground is where the mouth of the Pacific Ocean is. That is why, the divers are finding difficulties to refloat the vessel because of the strong current,” Gonzales-Kwan said on Tuesday (May 2).

She added that based on the information she received from the salvaging company, SMIT Salvage Singapore which has contracted its local partner Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. based in Manila, the refloating of M/V Jhe Zai 168 might be completed on May 23.
The company also needs master divers for them to undertake the refloating of M/V Jhe Zai 168, manned by 21 Chinese crew, which ran around on April 19 after it experienced strong currents.

M/V Jhe Zai 169 where the 55,000 metric tons of nickel ore are to be loaded, arrived on Monday morning, the town mayor said.

The said vessel will then transport the minerals to China which has an estimated commercial value of more than P300 million, Gonzales-Kwan added.

Meantime, Gonzales-Kwan said that she demanded the salvor company to secure permits not only from the local government but from the Mines and Sciences Bureau, Bureau of Customs, and even from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation as they are to undertake the salvaging operation.

She reasoned out that they are practically ‘doing business’ in Guiuan reason that the salvor company need to secure mayor and business permits, and from the mentioned government agencies saying another vessel manned with a different crew are present.

On top of this, Mayor Gonzales-Kwan is not discounting the possibility of filing damage claims for the possible destruction of coral reefs and sea grass due to the incident that took place last April 19.

“We will only learn the extent of the damage to our coral reefs and sea grass once the M/V Jhe Zai 168 is completely refloated. Surely, there is damage in our coral reefs and sea grass,” she said.

She, however, could not say just yet as to how much they will be claiming for damage as the amount will depend on the square meter damaged area.

A similar incident also occurred in August, 2021 where a Chinese vessel, M/V Ambition Journey, also ran aground in Sulangan Island and loaded with 49,000 nickel ore on its way to China due to engine trouble.

The local government unit was able to collect P11 million from the Emir Mineral Resource Corp. for the damage the vessel incurred to the coral reefs and seagrass.

The amount went to the local government at P5 million. P1 million to Sulangan village; and the remaining P5 million to the Protective Management Office.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The 38 candidates for this year’s Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) will be coming to Leyte and Samar as part of the contest venue.

The candidates, three of them are from the region, arrived in the city on Monday(May 1), for several activities with the staging of the national costume competition to be held at the HRDC gym of the Leyte Normal University on May 4 as the highlight of the visit.

The three candidates from the region who are vying for the prestigious title are Airish Ramos of Eastern Samar; Layla Adriatico of Northern Samar; and Kimberly Escartin of Southern Leyte.

Karina Rosa Tiopes, the regional director of the Department of Tourism, said the visit of these candidates will not only help boost the tourism destinations not just of the chosen areas but the rest of Eastern Visayas as well.

“This will give us the opportunity to promote various destinations of the region, show our culture, our local products, (and) even the food that we serve. This will provide good mileage for Eastern Visayas and Eastern Visayans themselves,” she said enthusiastically.
“This is an indication that Eastern Visayas is now being heard. That what they usually read in papers, see on the internet, especially when they read about Samar Island, the connotation is always negative, typhoon, insurgency, poverty, but we know what is the reality; that we live a life that is relatively peaceful and secured,” Tiopes said.
Among the areas to be visited by the 38 candidates are the Kalanggaman Island in Palompon; Sohoton and Sa-ob Cave, and the St Michael the Archangel Church, all in Basey; Caluwayan Resort in Marabut; Tacloban City and the McArthur Park in Pal; and Sta. Fe town in Leyte.

Consideration in selecting the sites like Kalanggaman Island and Sohoton Cave for the candidates to visit was their popularity among visitors, and being tourists ready, and accessibility.

Sta. Fe although has no tourist destination was chosen because of its vast rice fields which will be used as a backdrop for the national costume photoshoot.

Sta. Fe is one of the top rice-producing towns in Leyte. As of this time, most farmers in the municipality are still harvesting which was one of the considerations why the municipality was chosen as the venue for the photoshoot of MUPh which theme this year is “Ani” or harvest.

The team assigned to do the ocular checked several places in Leyte to choose the best site for the photo shoot and they selected Sta. Fe because the area is spacious and it’s very accessible.

“The most important thing is on the day that they will have their photoshoot is the best time for that activity. The scenery will be perfect and it will give justice to their theme,” Tiopes disclosed.

Meantime, Samar Tourism Officer Marvin Piczon said that visit of the candidates to Basey and Marabut will really bring positive impacts to the two destinations.

“Their visit to Samar next week will help in introducing the province to those who have not yet heard nor visited our place to know more about Samar’s tourism,” he said.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

For region to become sports power

TACLOBAN CITY –Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla has proposed to other leaders in the region to have their own sports academy like has done.

Petilla made this suggestion as the region prepares for the Palarong Pambansa to be staged from July 29 to August 5 in Marikina City.

Gold medalists of the recently-held Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet are to represent the region in the said national sporting event.

Petilla said that having a sports academy which will train young athletes all year round will be a good training ground for Eastern Visayas to achieve medal-worthy performances in a national sporting competition like the Palarong Pambansa.

In his first term in office, Petilla put up the Leyte Sports Academy (LSA) which saw many of its student-athletes reaping recognition not only in national sporting competitions but even in the international stage.

“We have to work as one, one region for us to have a good standing in the Palarong Pambansa,” the Leyte governor said.

The governor said that he has discussed the matter with Samar Rep. Michael Tan who appeared to be interested.

“I talked with Cong Michael Tan (and) told him if they are interested of putting up a Samar Sports Academy just like LSA because our athletes are competing internationally and our athletes are being recruited by top universities of the country and I am happy because they are putting the region in the map,” Petilla said.

Rep. Tan, when asked for his reaction to the suggestion of Gov. Petilla, said that they could consider the possibility of implementing the same sports program for the province.
However, before coming with a sports program, Tan said that the needed facility that will be used by athletes must be first be put in place.

Last year, the Samar provincial government inaugurated a P1.2-billion worth Spark Samar sports complex in Brgy. Lagundi, Catbalogan City.

Based on its master plan, the facility which is situated in a 16-hectare property owned by the province will have a 8,100 seating capacity stadium, track oval and other athletic facilities, commercial strip, business processing outsourcing hub, residential area, a huge space for greenery.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-A sea turtle was found dead along the shore of Barangay Del Norte of Lapinig, Northern Samar.

The dead turtle was identified to be a green sea turtle of about 35 kilograms and was already in the state of decomposition when found by some municipal government workers at the shoreline of Sabang Beach on April 25, says Police Staff Sergeant Cleo Juliata.

Sgt. Juliata described the dead turtle as in an advanced state of decomposition which also shows the presence of protruding parasites in the neck and butt.

He suspects that the presence of the parasites in the body of the turtle was the cause of its death.
(ROBERT DEJON)