Sea trips cancelled due to ‘Ineng’

CEBU, Philippines — In a precautionary move, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday suspended trips from Cebu and Bohol to areas affected by Tropical Storm Ineng and the prevailing southwest monsoon or Habagat.

Trips of vessels weighing 250 gross tonnage and below en route to areas affected by the storm had been cancelled, according to Lt. Junior Grade Michael Encina, spokesperson of the PCG in Central Visayas.

In the morning, the coast guard ordered the grounding of MBCA Junmar 2 from Pilar port supposedly bound for Ormoc City, Leyte. It was supposed to depart at 7 a.m. but there were no reported stranded passengers as they were advised to go home.

Also grounded was MBCA Apekop from Oslob, southern Cebu to Panglao in Bohol, which was supposed to leave at 8 a.m. yesterday.

In Bohol, MBCA San Isidro was also barred from leaving the port of Ubay for Bato, Leyte at 8:30 a.m. while MBCA Leopards was also not allowed to sail from Ubay to Hilongos, Leyte.

Although Ineng may not have a direct effect on Cebu and the Visayas, the state weather bureau had said the southwest monsoon or Habagat will continue to bring scattered rains and strong winds in the region.

Alfredo Quiblat Jr., chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration Visayas, told The FREEMAN on Wednesday that Cebu and the rest of the Central Visayas, including Western Visayas, may experience light to moderate rains.

In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that Ineng maintained its strength while slightly showing signs of slowing down.

PAGASA said moderate to occasionally heavy rains were to be experienced over Catanduanes last night. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains would have also prevailed over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro Provinces, northern portions of Palawan (including Calamian and Cuyo Islands), Antique, Aklan, and the rest of Bicol Region.

Today, the state weather bureau added, moderate to heavy rains may be experienced over Batanes, Cagayan (including Babuyan Group of Islands), Ilocos Norte and Apayao.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may also prevail over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro Provinces, northern portions of Palawan (including Calamian and Cuyo Islands), and the rest of Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley.

“Residents in the aforementioned areas, especially those living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides, are advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings to be issued by PAGASA Regional Services Divisions,” PAGASA’s advisory read.

According to PAGASA, Ineng remains less likely to make landfall in the country. However, it may intensify into a severe tropical storm in the next 24 hours from the time the advisory was issued at 5 p.m. yesterday.

Sea travel is also seen to be risky over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas due to potentially rough sea conditions.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Ineng was estimated, based on all available data, at 670 km east of Casiguran, Aurora. It was moving west northwest at 10 kph.

Ineng is packed with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

By afternoon today, it is estimated to be 370 km east southeast of Basco, Batanes; 270 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes by Saturday afternoon; 785 km northwest of Basco, Batanes by Sunday afternoon, which is out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility already. — JMD (FREEMAN)