‘Bising’ now a typhoon; DOTr suspends land, sea travels to Visayas, Mindanao
Severe tropical storm “Bising” (international name “Surigae”) intensified into a typhoon on Friday morning, April 16, and may begin to affect portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region by
Sunday, April 18.
With this development, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suspended all land and sea travels bound for Visayas and Mindanao.
In an advisory, the DOTr ordered for the suspension of trips by land and sea, including fishing vessels coming from Matnog Port in Sorsogon province and other ports in the Bicol Region starting Friday noon.
“The DOTr advises trucking or logistics companies and buses not to proceed or postpone their planned trips in order to avoid long queues at Matnog, Sorsogon, to Daraga, Albay,” it said.
As of 11 a.m., Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Bising has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
“Over the next three days, Bising is forecast to steadily intensify,” PAGASA said.
Bising was estimated at 960 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at around 10 a.m., moving west-northwest at 15 kph.
PAGASA said Bising has no direct effect yet over the country as of Friday.
While the center of Bising may not hit land or make landfall, it could pass close enough to the eastern section and bring stormy conditions over some portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region.
PAGASA said winds and heavy rains associated with the weather disturbance could be felt over portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol region starting Sunday.
In anticipation of the onset of strong breeze and near-gale conditions, PAGASA will likely raise tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 in some areas of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar as early as Friday evening.
PAGASA warned that Bising could also trigger rough to very rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours.
It advised mariners of small sea vessels to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.
The DOTr has already directed its attached agencies in the maritime and road sectors, such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Land Transportation Office, (LTO), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to immediately enforce the travel suspension.
In a separate advisory, the PCG said shipping operations will be suspended Friday, April 16 until Tuesday, April 20, as precautionary measure.
“Shipping operations at Matnog Port in Sorsogon going to Visayas and Mindanao are temporarily suspended from 12 p.m. today, 16 April 2021, until 20 April 2021 (Tuesday) due to Tropical Storm, Bising,” the PCG advisory read.
In response, Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero advised all truck and bus operators, as well as owners of private vehicles to postpone their trips to avoid getting stranded in his province. Matnog Port in Sorsogon is one of the busiest ports as it plays host to vessels traveling from to Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao. (With a report from Niño Luces)