ILOILO City — Maritime travel has returned to normal across Region 6 following the lifting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals caused by Tropical Storm Kristine.
All sea vessels resumed operations early Friday morning after a two-day suspension.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stations across the region issued advisories confirming the resumption of sea trips.
According to the advisory from the Coast Guard Station Iloilo issued at 5 a.m., only the northwestern portion of Iloilo including Lambunao, Calinog, Bingawan, Janiuay, and Passi City, remained under Wind Signal No. 1.
The Coast Guard has lifted restrictions on voyages except for vessels 250 gross tons and below, which are still barred from sailing and advised against undertaking any water activities during the unfavorable weather conditions.
This follows the guidelines set by the HPCG Memo Circular No. 03-01 regarding the movements of motorboats and vessels when no weather bulletins are in effect.
Sea trips that have resumed included routes from Iloilo en route to Negros Occidental, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila, and vice versa.
Additionally, the voyages of fiber vessels between Iloilo City and Guimaras have also restarted.
Commander Jan Terazona of PCG-Iloilo further updated at 11 a.m. on Friday that Tropical Storm Kristine is exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and Iloilo province is no longer under any Gale Warnings or Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals.
While the storm signals have been cleared in the region, the Coast Guard continues to remind the public and all vessel operators to exercise extra precautionary measures for safety./PN
