Coast Guard OKs stranded interisland vessels to sail

THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) has given interisland vessels stranded in various ports in Cebu, Batangas, Albay and Manila the go-ahead to resume sailing due to improved weather and sea conditions in these areas.

The vessels got stranded when the government prevented boats from sailing due to Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu) that entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday.

Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson and head of the command’s public affairs office, yesterday told the INQUIRER that with this development, they expected a reduction in the number of stranded passengers in these ports.

On Sunday, a total of 1,793 passengers were reportedly stranded in Cebu seaports while their counterparts in Batangas and Albay totaled 643 and 856, respectively.

Gale warnings

Vessels stranded in other Luzon and Visayas ports will be allowed to sail again as soon as the gale warnings in their respective areas are lifted by the Coast Guard, an agency attached to the Department of Transportation and Communications.

As of 10 a.m., Monday, the number of stranded ship passengers totaled 6,203, nearly 190 less than the 6,391 passengers reported the previous day.

Stranded

In various ports at Manila’s North Harbor, there were still 1,544 stranded passengers, according to the PCG.

Their counterparts in the following ports were as follows: Iloilo City, 963; Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, 809; Romblon, 191; Puerto Princesa City, 160; Coron, Palawan, 75; Sorsogon, 58; Northern Quezon, 56; Occidental Mindoro, 50; Cuyo, Palawan, 41; Camarines Sur, 37; Masbate, 21; Batangas City, 14, Roxas City, 12; Caticlan, Aklan, 11; and Dumaguete City, 9. From 81 on Sunday, the number of stranded vessels was down to 59 yesterday.

On the other hand, there were 273 rolling cargoes stranded in these ports, from 540 on Sunday.