Coast Guard takes precautions: Ships grounded, 1,600 stranded

CEBU, Philippines - Lessons learned the hard way from previous storms were put to good use yesterday as the Philippine Coast Guard did not allow any vessel to sail with Storm Signal number 1 raised over Cebu.

Due to this, more than 1,600 passengers were stranded yesterday in the different ports of Cebu as 32 vessels and motor bancas were grounded.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration in a weather bulletin issued at 5 p.m yesterday however reported that tropical depression Bising has already weakened into a low pressure area as it interacted with the land masses of Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

 But PAGASA said this weather disturbance and the tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring rains over Visayas and Mindanao particularly the Northern and Eastern Visayas as well as Northern and Central Mindanao.

PAGASA also advised that residents in these areas have to be alert against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Petty Officer 1 Teofilo Orevillo, PCG Cebu Station office watch, said that as early as 8 a.m. yesterday, vessels were no longer allowed to travel.

Tropical depression Bising is likewise projected to be at 70 kilometers east northeast of Cebu City this morning.

The 17 vessels not allowed to sail were the MV Ormoc Star, MV Fiji 2, MV Gloria 2, MV Andy II, MV Superferry 12, MV Wonderful Star, MV Melveric 10, MV Supercat 30, MV Asia Pacific, MV Ocean Jet 6, MV Starcraft, MV Super Shuttle Ferry 19, MV Zamboanga Ferry, MV Senor San Jose de Tagbilaran, MV J and N Carrier, MV Melveric 7 and MV Melveric 2.

These vessels were bound for Tagbilaran, Bohol; Hilongos, Leyte; Bato, Leyte; Cagayan de Oro City, Jubay, Bohol; Tubigon, Bohol; Cawayan, Masbate and Ormoc City.

Nine motor bancas were likewise not allowed to travel namely the MB KCL, MB Alfredo, MB Alexia, MB RJR 8, MB Esperanza 8, MB Junmar I, MB Junmar 2, MB Behbrewela and MB Sto. Nino B.

The motor bancas were supposed to be bound for Mandaue City from Camotes Island, Cebu; from Camotes Island to Danao City; from Camotes Island to Ormoc City and from Danao City to Isabel, Leyte.

While six tugboats were also grounded namely LCT Sta. Felomina, LCT Bato 12, LCT Tampi 12, LCT Wilcox, LCT Holy Trinity Navistar and LCT Pilipinas Mabuhay.

These tugboats were supposed to travel from Cebu City to Amlan, Negros Oriental; from Tabuelan, Cebu to Escalante, Negros Oriental and from Carmen, Cebu to Albuera, Leyte.

Orevillo said that many of those stranded opted to return home while others stayed at the terminal or inside the vessels that they were supposed to take.

Earlier in the day yesterday signal number 1 was in effect in the Visayas areas specifically in Northern Cebu, Eastern, Samar, Western, Samar, Biliran Island, Leyte Provinces and Bohol.

Signal number 1 was also in effect in some parts of Mindanao including Dinagat Province, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.

However, in the latest weather bulletin of PAGASA, there are no more public storm signals raised. — /NLQ(THE FREEMAN)