ORMOC CITY, Leyte, July 11, (PNA) – Amidst gale warning, Pilar town in Camotes islands appears to have been experiencing a food shortage after operations of its only means of transportation to the main lands were cancelled in the past few days.
This occurred after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised a gale warning, disallowing the motorized bancas to navigate, particularly to Ormoc City.
Pilar residents regularly purchase their commodities in the city.
This situation made more difficult for the people in Pilar who are still in grief after more than 50 of the residents died when M/B Kim Nirvana-B capsized off Ormoc City.
In a phone interview with Neriza Roa, a teacher, said prices of commercial rice, that usually costs Php 44 per kilogram, rose to Php 48 and government rice at Php 34 per kilo increased to Php 38.
And other prime commodities that had fallen short of stock resulted to increased cost.
She added that a roll-on roll-off (RORO), carrying National Food Authority (NFA) rice, arrived Friday morning but no other supplies and commodities were included.
Roa hopes that with the coming of rice supply, its cost will get back to normal.
Her husband Jayson, a village councilman, is in a barbecue business.
She said the cancellation of trips affected their business due to lack of meat supply coming from the city where they get daily stocks.
Due to the situation, the provincial government of Cebu sent food packs to the island, composed of rice, canned goods, noodles, biscuits and coffee.
The suspension of M/B Kim Nirvana-A after its sister boat capsized brought only one banca remained operational. However, the Philippine Coast Guard disallowed it from sailing.
Another passenger banca M/B Hebrewelah that travels Ormoc and Pilar island, is currently on dock after its engine stops working, hours before M/B Kim Nirvana-B got an accident on July 2.
Its supposed passengers transferred to the next trip that capsized, including the operator 40-year old Rolyn de la Torre who was one of the fatalities.
Following the sea tragedy, PCG offered free trips through one of its vessels to the island as the trip was still suspended due to rough seas. (PNA)