CEBU CITY: Over 1,000 passengers were stranded in Central Visayas after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sea travels as Tropical Depression Kabayan brought heavy rains on Monday.
Commander Mark Larsen Mariano, PCG-Central Visayas spokesperson, said they started suspending travels by sea Sunday due to the weather disturbance.
As of Monday afternoon, the PCG in Central Visayas recorded 1,295 passengers stranded as they canceled trips of 34 passenger vessels and 200 rolling cargoes.
‘Some 53 vessels take shelter in different areas,’ Mariano said.
He said they recorded 31 trips were canceled on Sunday, mostly bound for Leyte, Camotes Islands, Samar, Olango Island, Hilongos in Leyte province, Cagayan de Oro, Ormoc in Leyte, Talibon, Tubigon and Calbayog.
On Monday, another 12 trips bound for Surigao, Ormoc, Bohol, San Carlos City, Poro in Camotes Island and Isabela were also canceled.
The PCG in Central Visayas and its stations and substations activated their Deployable Response Group (DRG) on stan
dby to rapidly respond to any eventualities brought by the inclement weather.
The city government here evacuated on Monday over 300 stranded passengers to the Cebu City Sports Center, providing them with food and temporary shelter while waiting for the resumption of trips to different provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport canceled six flights bound for Siargao Island, Surigao province and Ozamis as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, reported that Kabayan had made landfall over the town of Manay in Davao Oriental.
Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria assured support to hundreds of passengers who were stranded in the province due to the cancellation of sea travel because of Kabayan.
‘We are thankful that the intensity of Kabayan has weakened but many people from other areas have been stranded and so we will extend whatever assistance we can give, such as food packs,’ he
said.
At least 325 individuals were stranded in three passenger terminals across the province.
Sagarbarria on Sunday also issued Executive No. 51, suspending all classes at all levels in both public and private schools due to the weather condition brought about by Kabayan.
Source: Philippines News Agency
