ILOILO CITY — Trips of small fastcraft vessels plying the Iloilo-Bacolod City route are still cancelled on Saturday as the province and Negros Occidental were still under a gale warning due to Typhoon Paolo.
Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo commander, Lt. RamilPalabrica, said Saturday afternoon that the cancellation of trips of fastcraft vessels below 200 gross tonnage started at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Palabrica explained that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued another gale warning over the south coast of Iloilo and the south coast of Negros Occidental areas at 5 a.m. and 11 a.m Saturday.
But Palabrica said no stranded passenger was reported since fastcraft vessels with more than 200 gross tonnage are continuously operating and trips of roll-on/roll-off vessels are also ongoing via Lapuz Port and Dumangas Port.
He added that these big fastcrafts and roll-on/roll-off vessel could still cater the influx of passengers who are going to Bacolod City for the highlight activities of the Masskara Festival over the weekend.
In a previous interview with Palabrica, he said that small fastcrafts cannot manage the big waves in the middle of the waters of Iloilo and Negros so the trips were cancelled to ensure the safety of the passengers.
He said that they will immediately allow the small fastcrafts to operate once the gale warning will be lifted.
Meanwhile, trips of motor bancas plying Iloilo City-Guimaras route are still ongoing, but Palabrica said that they have reduced the boat capacity to 75 percent.
Palabrica reminded passengers to continue to monitor the weather updates when traveling.
Boat operators are strongly advised to comply with safety requirements, especially the provision of life jackets to all passengers and to check the engines of their boat before departing.
Palabrica assured that Coast Guard personnel are still on standby to respond to any untoward incident.
Fishermen with small vessels were still advised not to venture into the waters for their safety. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
