ILOILO City – More than 400 passengers were stranded in seaports across Western Visayas early yesterday due to the inclement weather brought by tropical depression “Samuel.”
The trips of sea vessels had been cancelled by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) since Tuesday morning.
Based on the PCG’s guidelines, no sea vessel of any type or tonnage shall be allowed to sail except to take shelter, as the situation may warrant, whenever storm signal No. 1 or higher is hoisted within its point of origin, the intended route and port of destination.
All vessels already underway shall seek shelter when any storm signal is hoisted in its immediate vicinity, along its route, and point of destination.
As of 12 noon yesterday, according to Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, spokesperson of PCG Western Visayas, 429 passengers were stranded in the following seaports:
* Lapus wharf in Iloilo City – 75
* New Iloilo ferry terminal (fast craft terminal) – 18
* Dumangas port in Dumangas, Iloilo – 150
* Estancia port in Estancia, Iloilo – 39
* Culasi port in Roxas City – 10
* Caluya pier in Caluya, Antique – six
* Caticlan Jetty Port in Caticlan, M alay, Aklan, – 117
* Alegria port in Buruanga, Aklan – 14
The PCG also recorded 214 rolling cargos and trucks at the Dumangas port (163), Lapuz wharf (one), Estancia port (10), Culasi port (one), Caticlan Jetty Port (32), and Alegria port (seven).
According to Palabrica, concerned local government units assisted the stranded passengers in coordination with the PCG and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He did not discount the possibility that the number of stranded people would rise. The order cancelling the trips of sea vessels would only be lifted once the weather had improved, he stressed.
“Until indi pa ma-lift ang storm signal, indi pa makabiyahe ang aton sea vessels,” said Palabrica.
Iloilo City had been under storm signal No. 1 since Monday night.
In the 8 o’clock weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) last night, Signal No.1 over Iloilo, Capiz, Guimaras and Romblon has been lifted.
“Samuel” had moved south of Cuyo archipelago and was approaching Palawan. It was expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Thursday evening and Friday morning, according to Pagasa.
The state weather bureau lifted the storm signal No. 1 in Negros Occidental much earlier, at 5 p.m. yesterday.
“Samuel” was expected to make landfall in Northern Palawan between last night and this morning.
Pagasa still warned of moderate to heavy rains, which may trigger flooding and landslides, over Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo groups of islands, Aurora, Quezon and Mindoro provinces, Panay Island, and Guimaras.
Residents of these areas, especially those living near or in river channels, low-lying and mountainous areas, were advised to take appropriate measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.
“Samuel” is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between tonight and Friday morning./PN
