CAMP VICENTE LIM, Calamba City - Tropical Storm (TS) "Salome" has left 1,152 people stranded in Calabarzon ports as of 6 a.m. Friday, as all sea travels in the region have been cancelled starting 4 p.m. Thursday.
The "no sail policy" stands indefinitely until further advice from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The Calabarzon Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported on the cancellation of the sea trips, following the advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) on Thursday that sea travel is risky over areas under storm Warning Signal #1 due to moderate to rough seas.
OCD-RDRRMC Regional Director Olivia Luces said that PCG Southern Tagalog has been on standby alert and implemented the “no sail policy” in all Calabarzon provinces comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Batangas is also closely coordinating with other agencies in Calabarzon for updates regarding the storm.
Luces said the cancelled trips resulted in some 219 rolling cargoes, 20 vessels, and 20 motorized bancas stalled at the ports as of 6 a.m. Friday.
At the Port of Batangas, some 978 passengers, 192 rolling cargoes, four vessels, and one motorized banca were stranded, while five other sea vessels sought shelter at safer harbors.
At Nasugbu port, three motorized bancas were stranded and three others also took shelter due to choppy waters.
In Mabini port, two vessels were also stranded, while nine more sought shelter at the port.
Sea travels of five vessels in Balayan port were suspended.
In Quezon province, 46 passengers, 9 rolling cargoes, and seven motorized bancas were stranded in Atimonan port, while at the Lucena City port, around 86 passengers were stranded and 14 rolling cargoes and four vessels were also advised not to sail.
At Mogpog port, eight of 12 passengers who were stranded on Thursday afternoon opted to go back home by 6 a.m. Friday, while 12 rolling cargoes and five vessels were held at bay due to the risky sea trips.
Around 38 passengers in Real and 20 passengers and 3 bancas in Infanta got stalled at the ports, while sea travels were halted for three motorized bancas also in Real, one in Patnanungan port; and four in Infanta. (PNA)
