MANILA -- Sea travel has been suspended in various parts of the country Thursday due to the anticipated onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.
In an advisory, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a total of 2,828 passengers, 188 rolling cargoes, 10 vessels, and four motor bancas were stranded at the ports of North Harbor in Metro Manila; Semirara and Lipata in Western Visayas; Pasacao, Tabaco City, Bulan, Pilar, Matnog, Virac and San Andres in Bicol; Balwarteco, San Isidro, Jubasan in Eastern Visayas; and Dumaguete in Negros Oriental.
All PCG units were advised to ensure the strict implementation of PCG Memorandum Circular Number 02-13 or the Guidelines on Movement of Vessels during Heavy Weather.
Under the guidelines, no vessel of any type or tonnage shall be allowed to sail except to take shelter, as the situation may warrant, when tropical cyclone warning signal (TCWS) No. 1 or higher is hoisted within its point of origin, the intended route, and point of destination.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) announced that all vessels serving Banica, Roxas City going to Masbate routes as the Banica Port in Roxas City, Capiz have been cancelled due to bad weather.
Motorbanca trips at the Lucap Port in Alaminos, Pangasinan were also suspended including trips at the Aparri Port going to Claveria, Calayan and Santa Ana in Cagayan, as well as the Batanes Group of Island.
The trips of sea vessels serving Surigao City going to Dapa, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte were suspended due to rough seas and waves as high as four meters or more.
However, big ships serving the route of Lipata, Surigao City to Benit or Liloan in Southern Leyte are allowed to sail, as well as vessels traversing from Surigao City to Cebu City and vice versa.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has hoisted TCWS No. 1 over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Benguet, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon including Polillo Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias. and Ticao island.
PAGASA reported that "Ompong", packing maximum sustained winds of up to 205 km. per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 255 kph, is expected to bring rains and gusty winds over parts of Luzon beginning Friday before making landfall in Cagayan on Saturday. (PNA)
