CEBU CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Central Visayas on Tuesday suspended sea travels of vessels originating from northern Cebu province due to Tropical Storm Kristine.
Ensign Jay-R Alguidano, commander of PCG-Northern Cebu, said all travels of any type or tonnage of vessels to and from Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte are suspended.
He said all trips to and from Dinagat Island and Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Group, are also suspended due to the weather disturbance.
“Moreover, all movements of vessels/watercrafts 250 gross tonnage and below plying the route within Coast Guard Station Northern Cebu is hereby suspended,” Alguinado said in his advisory.
He said operations may resume once the weather or sea conditions improve as may be declared by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Resumption of travel, he said, will also depend on Memorandum Circular No. 02-23, the revised guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather as well as Memorandum Circular No. 03-01, the guidelines on the movement of motor boats or vessels in the absence of weather bulletin in the locality.
“The seagoing rider public, coastal communities, and fisherfolk are advised to refrain from engaging (in) any sea or water-related activities to prevent any untoward incident,” he added.
On Monday, the Cebu Port Authority suspended trips from the piers they managed in Cebu City and other areas in the province.
Meanwhile, the PCG Central Visayas station based in Cebu City said it monitored “zero” passenger stranded due to Kristine.
However, the city government said more than 30 Leyte and Zamboanga-bound passengers were stranded and housed at a gymnasium in the coastal barangay of San Roque.
The Crisis Intervention Unit of this city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services gave food assistance to the stranded passengers. (PNA)