By John Rey Saavedra/Philippine News Agency
CEBU CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas on Tuesday announced the cancellation of several sea travels of passenger vessels from Cebu to various destinations in the Visayas and Bicol regions as tropical depression “Falcon” is now moving westward over the Philippine area of responsibility.
In an advisory, Lt. Junior Grade Michael Encina, spokesperson of the PCG in the region, said more than 20 scheduled trips of vessels originating in this city’s pier 1 to 5 and Bantayan Island in Cebu were affected.
The vessels are bound for different parts of Bohol, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Masbate, and Leyte, Encina said.
As of 11 a.m. of Tuesday, three trips of MV Ocean Jet fast-crafts to Tagbilaran, Bohol were cancelled, while the noon trip of MV St. Camael to Ormoc, Leyte was also put on hold.
Four trips of motorboats to Getafe, Bohol from this city and another five from Mandaue port bound for Getafe and Pitogo, Bohol were also cancelled.
A sea-going passenger vessel, MV Balt Bep bound for Estancia, Negros Occidental and a motorboat bound for Cadiz of the same province were also called off.
The advisory also said a landing craft tank, LCT Venture 3, bound for Kawayan, Masbate was cancelled.
Also suspended at noon were MV Ocean Jet fast-craft trips from Tagbilaran to Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, Larena in Siquijor, and Plaridel in Misamis Occidental, to Cebu City.
Two motorboat trips from Ubay, Bohol to Bato, Leyte and from Ubay to Hilongos, Leyte were also cancelled.
“The suspensions of travels were initiated by the captain of the vessels,” Encina said.
The PCG advisory came after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Visayas stationed in Mactan Island released a thunderstorm advisory due to a tropical depression.
Moderate to heavy rain showers, lightning, and strong winds could be expected around Cebu province, it added.
“The…conditions are being experienced in Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, San Remegio, and Tabogon north of this city, as well as in Villaba, Kananga, Tabango, and Capoocan in Leyte,” the advisory read.
“All are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards which include flashfloods and landslides,” it added.
Meanwhile, Encina said the different stations of PCG in Central Visayas informed the fisherfolk and residents in the coastal villages in Cebu and Bohol of the bad weather, reminding them of the perils if they insist to sail despite the unfavorable weather condition brought by tropical depression Falcon.
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