By Nanette Guadalquiver | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Coast Guard canceled sea trips from Negros Occidental and Bacolod City to other parts of the country on Wednesday (Dec. 15) due to Typhoon “Odette.”
Tropical Cycle Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised across the Visayas as of 11:00 a.m., based on the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its advisory, the Coast Guard Station Bacolod said suspended trips are those from Bacolod City to Iloilo City and Bacolod City to Dumangas in Iloilo Province.
Others include travels to Bacolod to Manila, Bacolod to Cagayan de Oro, and Bacolod to Batangas.
In Bacolod, some 32 rolling cargoes as well as 80 passengers, including drivers and helpers, have been stranded at the Bredco port as of 11:30 a.m.
Earlier, canceled trips from northern Negros Occidental to Cebu Province were those bound for Escalante City to Tuburan town, Sagay City to Tabuelan town, and San Carlos City to Toledo City.
“No vessel of any type of tonnage shall be allowed to sail except to take shelter, as the situation may warrant, when TCWS No. 1 or higher is hoisted within port of origin, the intended route or its point of destination,” Capt. Ludovico Librilla, commander of Coast Guard Station-Negros Occidental said, citing the guidelines on the movement of vessels during bad weather.
Resumption of trips will depend on the next weather bulletin, he added.
According to PAGASA, moderate to high seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS is in effect in the next 24 hours.
“These conditions are risky for all types of sea vessels. Mariners are advised to remain in port or take shelter in port until winds and waves subside,” it added. (PNA) – bny
