Two men in drifting boat saved

DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – Two men were rescued Tuesday afternoon after their boat went adrift off El Oriente Beach in Barangay Mangnao, this city, when its engine stalled.

Lt. Junior Grade Donna Lisa Ramacho, commander of the Coast Guard Dumaguete Station, said a team was sent to El Oriente Beach to check the report.

The team found that the two fishermen in the boat had been rescued by Jimmy Ariola, a barangay tanod of Barangay Calindagan.

Ariola told the Coast Guard the motorboat had left Calindagan for Siquijor Island.

About three nautical miles from Calindagan, the boat encountered big waves, causing its engine to conk out.

The boat drifted towards El Oriental Beach Resort, Ariola said.

Ariola and some companions towed the boat to shore.

They fixed the engine and the fishermen set off for Siquijor.

Initial reports reaching the Coast Guard said there were three people on the boat and that they had swum to shore safely after it capsized, said Ramacho.

All trips to Siquijor from Dumaguete were cancelled Tuesday afternoon due to rough seas, Ramacho said.

The shipping lines decided suspend trips to the island-province because of big waves.