• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A resolution thanking and commending the Philippine Coast Guard, the 618th Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Philippine Red Cross, Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bacolod City Mountain Tigers Rescue Team, and Bacolod City DRRMO Quick Response teams, for swiftly responding to the distress call of the mechanically disabled marine vessel (M/V) Weesam Express 6, and for safely disembarking all 172 passengers, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.
The resolution authored by Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang, said that on November 21, M/V Weesam Express 6 left the Bacolod Real Estate and Development Corporation (BREDCO) Port in Bacolod City at 11:30 a.m. bound for Iloilo City, and upon reaching the middle waters between Panay and Negros the fast craft encountered a mechanical issue that rendered it immobile.
The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 618th Squadron responded to a distress call issued by the captain of M/V Weesam Express 6, assisted by The Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bacolod City Disaster Risk Management Office, Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade and Bacolod Mountain Tigers Rescue Team, BREDCO Management, Weesam Express Staff, it said.
All 172 passengers of the aforesaid fast craft vessel were able to safely dock back to BREDCO Port in Bacolod City at around 3:30 p.m. due to the unwavering dedication, professionalism, zeal for public service, and compassion of the above-mentioned quick response Teams and staff in attending to the needs of the travelers, the resolution added.*
