CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Calabarzon Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Southern Tagalog reported Saturday that around 623 passengers and 129 rolling cargos were stranded as of 8 p.m. Friday in various ports in the region as sea voyage and travels were suspended due to Typhoon “Ompong.”
Regional Director Olivia Luces of the OCD and RDRRMC Calabarzon said the coast guard authorities have cancelled all trips in Batangas ports and those ports mostly in Northern Quezon, including Polillo Group of Island and Southern Quezon. Sea travels to Marinduque were also cancelled due to rough seas and big waves breaching into port areas.
Some 572 passengers and 115 rolling cargoes were stalled at the Batangas port .Trips of seven vessel were suspended while five other vessels sought shelter for anchoring at the port.
Also in Batangas, two other motorized bancas at the Port of Calero in Lobo and 15 in Port of Tingloy sheltered at harbors.
Luces also reported that the Southern Quezon Coast Guard also said nine rolling cargoes, a vessel and 29 motorized bancas were stranded at the Port of Balanacan per coast guard station in Mogpog.
Coast Guard Lucena also reported 5 rolling cargos and a vessel in Port Talao Talao, and one vessel each in Gumaca and Alabat ports remained stranded as of Saturday.
Luces said around 51 passengers, seven motorized bancas and two vessels were held at bay in the Port of Real, Quezon while seven motorized bancas and 2 vessels have resorted to take harbor shelter.
She added that the Coast Guard Station in Northern Quezon however reported no stranded passengers, except for motorized bancas with four in Patnanungan Port; 11 at Infanta Port and 1 in Polillo Port.
According Luces, the coast guard stations have remained in full heightened alert and standby for any eventuality 24/7 as they have activated their crisis management committee since Sept. 12, posting advisories and precautionary measures to prevent any maritime incident and casualty. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
