‘Amang’cancels sea trips

CEBU, Philippines — Sinulog revelers from Bantayan Island were stranded at Hagnaya port in San Remigio town, northern Cebu after sea trips were cancelled due to a looming weather disturbance.

Seaman Second John Mark Bagano from the Coast Guard Substation in San Remigio said about 50 to 60 passengers, including tourists who wanted to travel to Bantayan, were stranded at the port on Sunday.

Vessels at the port of northern Cebu were prohibited from going out after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 in the area.

Bagano told The Freeman that the Coast Guard called off at least 13 scheduled trips until 5:30 p.m. yesterday after the storm signal was hoisted at 6 a.m.

Each trip, he said, carries an average of 150 passengers for small ships and 500 passengers for big ships.

He said the influx of outgoing passengers bound for Bantayan Island were expected to increase later in the day yesterday as residents from the island who went to Cebu City to join the Sinulog Grand Parade were anticipated to return home on the same day.

In a separate interview, Seaman First Eleren Rasola from Coast Guard Substation-Bantayan said the bad weather disrupted at least 16 scheduled trips heading for the port in Barangay Hagnaya.

He said each trip only averaged 30 passengers last Sunday because most of the residents there travelled to Cebu for the festivity. He said only a few passengers stayed at the port terminals since some of them returned home or to their hotels.

Both Coast Guard substations in San Remigio and Bantayan have not recorded any maritime incident as of yesterday.

Personnel strictly prohibited and banned any vessel owner or boatman from venturing into the seas due to the observable huge waves off the port and the prevailing intermittent rains and strong winds on Sunday.

The Philippine Coast Guard District-Central Visayas (CGD-CV) issued notice to mariners on Sunday directing its stations and substations to suspend all trips of any type of vessel and to prohibit any passenger from boarding the ship.

CGD-CV spokesperson, Lt. Junior Grade Michael John Encina, said aside from interisland trips, travelling to and from Samar, Biliran, Leyte, eastern Bohol, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Camiguin were also disallowed.

These areas, including northern Cebu, were placed under Signal No. 1.

In another interview, PAGASA Visayas chief Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said sea travels in northern Cebu are cancelled automatically with the weather bureau’s issuance.

While vessels in other parts of the province are free to sail, sea conditions are risky due to the surge of Northeast monsoon bringing moderate to strong winds.

He said the presence of tropical depression Amang enhances the strength of the Northeast monsoon.

Quiblat said that aside from the unfavorable sea condition, heavy rains are also expected to prevail today until Tuesday.

The center of Amang is expected to cross near Cebu on Tuesday afternoon, about 60 kilometers northeast of Lapu-Lapu City, according to forecasts. (FREEMAN)