DepEd mourns death of 5 teachers in Iloilo-Guimaras sea mishap

FILE: ILOILO CITY disaster risk reduction & management office to the rescue sa 3 bangka natumaob papuntang JORDAN guimaras kahit basa ng ulan ok lg para lg makatulong… (Photo: Romeo Barry Lambarte/Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday expressed its condolences to the families of the five teachers, who died in a sea mishap at the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait over the weekend.

According to reports, four of the teachers are from the Lambunao National High School while the other one is from Agcuyawan Calsada Elementary School in Barotac Nuevo.

“They all came from Guimaras State University to process their graduate school requirements, and one teacher survived the tragedy,” the DepEd said in a statement.

The DepEd reported that the officials of the Schools Division of Iloilo immediately travelled to the town of Dumangas to attend to the needs of the victims and their families.

“The Department expresses its wholehearted commitment and calls on its field offices, partners, and stakeholders to ensure that the bereaved families receive adequate support as they go through this difficult time,” it added.

MB Chi-chi with 43 passengers and four crew; MB Keziah with four crew; and MB Jenny Vince with 40 passengers, capsized off Iloilo Strait due to bad weather on Saturday.

At least 27 passengers were killed in the sea mishap.

Six people are still missing out of the 86 passengers of the three capsized motorboats. Of the 86 passengers, only 75 have names in the manifesto.

Donna Magno, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head and designated spokesperson for the accident, said, however, that a probe that will provide answers on why the motorboats were allowed to sail amid the inclement weather may have to wait, as the immediate concern of government agencies is the assistance that should be provided to the families of those who died.