Boat, bus trips cancelled due to typhoon Ompong

All sea trips in Central Visayas scheduled today and tomorrow were cancelled as typhoon Ompong continues to threaten the country.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael John Encina of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-District Central Visayas said all trips from today until 8 a.m. tomorrow were called off.

"Pero kung masama pa rin yung panahon (tomorrow), still we will issue an advisory that trips to and from the region remain cancelled,” he said.

PCG Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino directed all PCG district commanders in areas expected to be hit by typhoon Ompong to ensure the readiness of all assets and personnel to respond during emergency situations and to coordinate with their respective Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for possible rescue and related activities.

The PCG head also directed PCG units to remind and prevent all types of interisland vessels from sailing in the areas where public storm signal will be possibly hoisted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

On the other hand, bus trips were also cancelled.

Cebu South Bus Terminal Manager Jonathan Tumulak said all buses bound for the cities of Bacolod, Dumaguete, and Zamboanga were cancelled.

He advised passengers to reschedule their travel on Sunday.

According to forecast, PAGASA-Cebu officerin-charge Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said windy weather is expected to prevail over Cebu province today and on Saturday as Ompong is about to reach landmass.

Last Thursday’s monitoring showed that Ompong continues to move in a westward direction with the same strength of 205 kilometers per hour (maximum sustained winds) as it nears northern Luzon.

Quiblat said winds, from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour, blowing to Cebu’s coast may generate huge waves making it risky for people to cross the open sea on the next days.

He explained that this wind strength may produce wave height of four meters or waves as high as a one story building.

He said PAGASA may issue gale warning over the seaboards of Central Visayas, including Cebu province.

Quiblat said intermittent rains may also occur in the province with an intensity ranging from light to moderate.

By Sunday, he said, Cebu may already experience fair weather or improved weather conditions.