6,000 passengers stranded in Visayas ports

More than 6,000 people were stranded in seaports in the Visayas as Tropical Depression “Usman” forced the cancellation of sea travel Friday.

A total of 4,091 passengers were prevented from getting on to ships and boats ports in Eastern Visayas, authorities reported.

Another 2,000 passengers were unable to leave in Cebu and Bohol.

Capt. Giovanni Bergantin, the Philippine Coast Guard head in Eastern Visayas, said 1,291 passengers were stranded in Ormoc, 40 in Bato, 180 in Liloan, 363 in San Ricardo, 501 in Balwarteco, 98 in San Isidro and 1,382 in Jubasan.

The Coast Guard also said four vessels were grounded in Bato, two in Liloan, three in Balwarteco and Jubasan and one in San Isidro.

Eight pumpboats were not allowed to sail in Calbayog City.

Fourteen vessels were also reported to have taken shelter in Ormoc, Palompon, Catbalogan, Calbayog and Naval.

The Coast Guard in Central Visayas reported 25 passenger vessels were not allowed to sail as of 10:30 a.m. Friday.

At least 1,600 passengers were stranded in various terminals in Cebu and Bohol.

Most of the cancelled trips were for Leyte, Eastern Samar, Masbate and Sorsogon, areas that were under storm warning No. 1.

Also placed under warning No. 1 were northern Cebu and Camotes Islands.

In Eastern Samar, the District Engineering Office has prepositioned road equipment in strategic areas to clear highways of debris caused by Usman.

District Engineer Manolo Rojas said his office had been monitoring the movement of the tropical depression since Monday to determine where to place the equipment to be used to clear landslides, road slips or roadblocks.

“We have already positioned the needed equipment and tools in the field in eight strategic locations in the road networks of this province,” he said.

The equipment include dump trucks, service vehicles, loaders, graders, stake trucks, chainsaws, and bolt cutters.

All maintenance crews, drivers and heavy equipment operators were on standby for quick response to any eventualities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has stockpiled relief items that will be distributed to storm-stricken families.

DSWD Eastern Visays Director Restituto Macuto said 24,543 family food packs (FFPs) and raw materials for the production of additional food packs were available as relief aid.

These include: 653 sacks of rice, 86,328 cans of corned beef, 126,496 cans of beef loaf, 2,140 cans of meat loaf and 112,100 sachets of coffee.

Non-food relief items include: 24,397 blankets, 594 mosquito nets, 14,914 malongs, 1,344 hygiene kits, 497 family kits and 497 sleeping kits.

Macuto said they have a R3-million standby fund which can be used to purchase additional raw materials for the production of relief goods.