World | Philippines
Survivors of ill-fated ferry get compensation
Some 70 survivors arrived in Manila to receive cash benefits from the owner of an ill-fated ferry that sank off southern Philippines on Sunday, a television report said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 22:54 September 8, 2009
Manila: Some 70 survivors arrived in Manila to receive cash benefits from the owner of an ill-fated ferry that sank off southern Philippines on Sunday, a television report said.
M/V SuperFerry 5 carried some 70 of more than 900 survivors of the M/V Super Ferry 9 disaster, from Zambona City, which docked at a terminal at Manila's south harbour at past nine in the morning, said the report.
The survivors are entitled to a total of 11,000 pesos (Dh837.45) cash benefit - 5,000 pesos from the company and 6,000 pesos for lost baggage, Jess Supan, vice president for security and safety of Aboitiz Transport, said in a television interview.
The claims were processed inside the ship when it arrived in Manila, the television report added.
But sources said a law provides that a passenger listed on the ship's passenger manifest is entitled to receive 50,000 pesos as monetary assistance in the event of mishaps at sea.
The amount is over and above medical and hospitalisation expenses and other reasonable expenses.
Nine people died and more than 900 were rescued when M/V Super Ferry 9 sank after tilting for several hours in Siocon Bay near the southern Zamboanga Peninsula on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) suspended the operations of Aboitiz's 10 other passenger ships. Marina also suspended the officers and crew of M/V Super Ferry 9, to prevent them from serving on other passenger ships. However, a television report alleged that Aboitiz had posted the schedule of several ships at the company's terminal in Manila.
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