BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) halted sea travel in Negros Occidental on Friday after the province was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 (TCWS #1) due to Tropical Storm “Paeng”.
Coast Guard Station Northern Negros Occidental chief, Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio, pointed out that under PCG’s Memorandum Circular (MC) 03-01 dated February 2001 and MC 02-13 of June 2013 guidelines on movement of vessels during heavy weather, sea trips are suspended once the area of departure or destination, or both, is under a tropical cyclone wind signal.
Mercurio initially ordered a halt in sea travel around 5 a.m. yesterday for the Cadiz City to Daan Bantayan ferry route.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, initially placed Daan Bantayan and the rest of northern Cebu under TCWS #1.
When PAGASA posted its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the PCG issued another advisory ordering the suspension of sea travel between the BREDCO and Banago ports in Bacolod City bound for Iloilo City and Dumangas Port; Sagay City and Escalante City bound for Tabuelan, Cebu; San Carlos City bound for Toledo City, Cebu; and the Bacolod City to Manila route.
The PCG in Bacolod City has yet to give complete data as to how many passengers were stranded, although the number is expected to go into the hundreds as the suspension also coincided with the Undas travel season.
Meanwhile, prior to the suspension of sea trips, the PCG at BREDCO port is strictly adhering to security and safety protocols for passenger ships.
Passengers are screened prior to entering the terminal building to make sure they are not carrying contrabands.
Bags are also being checked by a PCG K-9 unit.
Prior to departure, the PCG personnel also board the ferries and check that they are not overloaded, all of their safety equipment is accounted for, and that the vessel itself is in good condition to operate./PN
