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PCG suspends sea travel in Quezon amid gale warning

By Belinda Otordoz

January 20, 2023, 6:24 pm

<p><strong>STRANDED</strong>. Almost a hundred passengers and 10 small boats bound for Quezon province's northern towns are stranded at the port in Real town on Friday (Jan. 20, 2023). The Philippine Coast Guard has suspended sea travel since Jan. 17 after the weather bureau issued a gale warning. <em>(Photo courtesy of Kevin Boiser/Real LGU)</em></p>

STRANDED. Almost a hundred passengers and 10 small boats bound for Quezon province's northern towns are stranded at the port in Real town on Friday (Jan. 20, 2023). The Philippine Coast Guard has suspended sea travel since Jan. 17 after the weather bureau issued a gale warning. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Boiser/Real LGU)

REAL, Quezon – The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel from the Port of Real after a gale warning was issued on Jan. 17 by the weather bureau.

"Our office has suspended sea travel for four days now due to a gale warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)," Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deputy substation commander Petty Officer 2 Wesley Luna said in an interview.

On Friday, some 10 boats and 100 passengers bound for the island towns of northern Quezon were stranded at the port due to bad weather brought about by a shear line.

A PAGASA advisory said the shear line will affect Quezon, Romblon, Marinduque and Bicol Region as heavy rains are expected.

Some passengers went back home but kept returning to the port to check the schedules of boat trips while other passengers of stranded small boats opted to either stay inside the vessels or wait at the Philippine Ports Authority compound.

Luna said their office suspended the travel of passenger boats with 35 gross tons weight and below, most of them bound for northern Quezon towns such as Jomalig and Patnanungan.

However, he added that they allow larger boats to sail, such as the 250-gross tonner roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels, also bound for the Polillo Group of Islands.

The local government of this town is handing out food packs to stranded passengers. (PNA)

 

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