By Cindy Ferrer/PNA
ILOILO CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas (PCG-6) reported on Wednesday that stranded passengers increased to 429 in different port terminals in the region due to Tropical Depression “Samuel”.
In an interview, PCG-6 spokesperson Lt. Commander Ramil Palabrica said trips are still suspended, while the region is still under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1.
As of noontime of Nov. 20, the stranded passengers was recorded at 321.
Palabrica said stranded passengers are being provided with their needs, especially food.
As of 12 noon Wednesday, 150 passengers were stranded at the Dumangas Port in Dumangas, Iloilo after trips of five roll-on roll-off vessels plying between Dumangas and Bacolod City were still canceled.
There were also 117 stranded passengers in Caticlan Jetty Port;75 in Lapuz Wharf in this city; 39 in Estancia Port in Estancia, Iloilo; 18 at the New Iloilo Ferry Terminal in this city; 14 in Alegria Port in Aklan;10 in Culasi Port in Roxas City; and six in RJL Pier, Caluya, Antique.
“Our local government units and other private groups immediately responded and provided assistance to our stranded passengers after we reported the information to operation center of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in our region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Palabrica said motor banca trips plying from Iloilo City to Guimaras and vice versa, and trips from Caticlan Port to Boracay Island continue to operate but still only until 6 p.m. and with passenger capacity of only 75 percent of the regular number of passengers.
Palabrica advised the public who would travel via sea to suspend or reschedule their trips, so they would not be stranded in port terminals.
Palabrica reiterated that the suspension of trips would not be lifted, while the region and their points of destination remained under storm warning signal if the weather was still not manageable and unsafe for sea travel.
