ISABELA CITY, BASILAN — Joint rescue teams safely evacuated 20 individuals from a wooden-hulled ferry boat that suffered mechanical failure in the waters off Basilan in the early hours of Friday, February 6, 2026.
The vessel, M/L Julifer, was en route from Zamboanga City to Laminusa Island in Siasi, Sulu, when its engine stalled around 3:00 a.m. near Lampinigan Island.
Emergency Response The distress call triggered a coordinated rescue operation involving several local and national agencies:
- The Rescuers: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was joined by the Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Isabela City CDRRMO.
- Evacuation: All passengers and crew members were successfully transferred to Lampinigan Island for temporary shelter before being transported to the Isabela City port.
- Social and Health Support: Upon arrival at the port, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the City Health Office (CHO) provided medical checkups and profiling for the rescued individuals.
Context: Tropical Depression Basyang The mechanical trouble occurred just hours before the Coast Guard implemented a temporary suspension of all sea trips in the region. The order was issued as a precautionary measure against Tropical Depression Basyang (international name: Penha), which has triggered heavy rains and rough seas across Mindanao and the Visayas.
Authorities reminded maritime operators to strictly adhere to weather bulletins and sea travel bans to prevent similar emergencies as the storm continues to move through Philippine waters. The M/L Julifer incident underscores the risks of maritime travel during the onset of weather disturbances, particularly for older, wooden-hulled vessels commonly used for inter-island transport in the Bangsamoro region.