Three persons were confirmed killed while 24 others were missing when a passenger boat sank after colliding with a fishing vessel off Limbones Island in Cavite at dawn Thursday, officials said.

The fatalities were identified as Beverly Cabinillo, 34, of Lubang Island; Relly Morales, 71; and a certain “Welmar,” his identity based on a name engraved in the cell phone found in his pocket.

Forty six other passengers were rescued in the Christmas Eve sea disaster.

Authorities said the fatalities and the missing were all from the MV Catalyn B, a wooden hull motorized banca with 14 crewmembers and 59 passengers aboard. It sank at sea about 2.8 nautical miles northwest of Limbones Island.

It was the second boat collision reported in the Limbones Sea in six years. In 2003, scores also died in a two-boat collision about one nautical mile off Limbones Point near Corregidor Island, officials said.

An initial report from the Coast Guard Command Center said the MV Catalyn B collided with the FV Anatalia at 2:25 a.m. Thursday.

A total of 73 people were on board the two boats when the incident occurred. At least 46 people have been rescued as of 6 a.m. Thursday while 24 others are still missing, said Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Armand Balilo.

Those rescued were taken to the Coast Guard headquarters. PCG officials, citing the vessel’s Master’s Oath of Safe Departure, said the MV Catalyn B has an authorized carrying capacity of 126.

Catalyn B was owned and operated by San Nicolas Shipping Lines. The vessel was bound for Tilik in Lubang Island, Mindoro and left Pier 2 at the North Harbor in Manila at around 9 p.m. Wednesday.

The bigger FV Anatalia, on the other hand, reportedly came from Turtle Islands and was on its way to the Navotas Fishing Port to unload its catch when it collided with the lightly built passenger boat, which immediately sank.

The Coast Guard Action Center said the Coast Guard vessels BRP Pampanga (SARV 003), MT Tug Habagat (TB-271) and BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV 3502) carrying rescue personnel and medical teams were immediately sent to the accident site.

Notice to Mariners was also issued to all vessels in the vicinity to help in the search operations.

The collision happened at a time when millions of Filipinos were heading to their home provinces for the Christmas Day celebrations.

Sea tragedies are prevalent in the archipelago due to tropical storms, badly maintained boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations. There was no weather disturbance when the mishap occurred.

Last year, a ferry overturned and killed some 800 off Sibuyan Island in Romblon during a typhoon.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,341 people. The incident was tagged as the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster.

Coast Guard National Capital Region chief Commodore Luis Tuason Jr. said an investigation is ongoing.

“Sa ngayon di pa natin masasabi kung sino ang may kasalanan sa dalawang vessels and we are still investigating kung sino ba talaga ang lumabag sa rules of the road para malaman natin kung sino ang dapat managot sa incident na ito,” he said.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the Navy has dispatched planes and ships, including the BRP Sulpicio Fernandez (Patrol Gunboat 853) with a full complement of 3 officers, and 15 crewmen and a rigid hull inflatable boat, to assist the Coast Guard.

“Navy Aircrafts PNI 312 and PNI 421 took off from Naval Base Heracleo Alano to help in the search more missing fishermen. Two more navy ships, BRP Iloilo (PS 32) and BRP Dagupan City (LC551) are also underway to augment search and rescue efforts in the area,” Arevalo said.

In the wake of the most recent tragedy, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) reiterated its call to subject fishing boats to safety regulations and basic safety training for persons on board.

Marina Administrator Ma. Elena Bautista said that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources which issues permits to fishing boats has no competency to check the safety of small fishing vessels.

“BFAR registers them and gives permit to fish but doesn’t check on safety regulations and qualifications,” Bautista told the Manila Bulletin. (With reports from JC Bello Ruiz and Elena L. Aben)