BAD weather has isolated the remote island towns of Camotes in northeaast Cebu.
With boat trips cancelled, the town of Pilar and parts of Tudela are running out of food and other supplies, said officials.
This has deepened the grief of residents over the loss of relatives and friends in the recent Ormoc sea tragedy where a motorized boat capsized, killing 61 passengers.
In Pilar, barangay Upper Poblacion councilor Jason Roa said store owners have not been able to replenish their stocks because passenger motorboats have not been allowed to sail for Ormoc city for more than a week now due to rough seas.
Another gale warning was issued yesterday, just two days after the first gale warning was lifted. The Visayas is not in the path of typhoon Falcon, but could experience strong winds and rough sea conditions because of the southwest monsoon (habagat).
Around 160 passengers were stranded in Cebu ports after 34 motorbancas and fast craft were not allowed to sail by the Coast Guard yesterday.
Roa said only one sack of rice is left in a big store in Pilar town. In some stores, the shelves are empty. He said he couldn’t buy a can of regular sardines because the stores are left with only the “hot” variety.
After more than a week since the July 2 sea accident, no boat has been able to sail for Ormoc,” he added.
MB Kim Nirvana-B capsized on July 2 shortly after it left Ormoc port for Pilar. A total of 61 passengers, including 36 from Pilar and 7 from Tudela, perished.
In Tudela, Mayor Erwin Yu said food shortage was reported in barangay Puertobello, but “it’s not alarming.” The municipal social welfare officer has been directed to identify affected residents.
Yu said they still have enough supply of National Food Authority (NFA) rice. Their problem is bringing their livestock to market.
NO TRIPS
“How can we sell (the livestock) when there are no boats?” he said.
He said he has requested Jomalia Shipping Lines, which plies the Danao-San Francisco route, to also serve the Pilar-Ormoc route.
In Pilar, Roa said motorboat Junmar 2 has been preparing to bring passengers to Ormoc since Tuesday, but local Coast Guard officials have been hesitant to clear the motorboat for travel. By the time approval from the higher-ups came last Wednesday, the passengers had gone home.
When the passengers returned to the boat yesterday morning, another gale warning was issued and the Coast Guard suspended trips by small vessels below 250 gross tonnage.
The price of gasoline in Pilar has also increased to P60 per liter early this week from the pre-accident price of P50 per liter, Roa said.
Gasoline, like all other commodities, is sold in stores. There is no gasoline station nor a public market in Pilar.
He said prices of commodities are expected to increase if the situation continues.
“Mahitabo gyod na, sir, kon di mi matabangan sa among sitwasyon diri (That will happen, sir, if we don’t get help),” he said.
Rocelyn Zosa, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said a five-man team has been sent to Camotes to assess the supply situation on the islands.
APPEAL
Commander Weniel Azcuña, chief of staff for Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Central Visayas, appealed to the public to put off unnecessary trips because of the gale warning.
“We also ask for their (public) patience. To the fishermen, please temporarily stop for safety purposes,” Azcuña said.
Alfredo Quiblat, acting chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) Mactan, said the entire Visayas has been placed under gale warning since 5 p.m last Wednesday.
“Although we are not in the storm’s (typhoon Falcon) track, we can experience strong winds due to the southwest monsoon (habagat),” Quiblat said.
He said southwest monsoon winds are as strong as 52 to 63 kilometers per hour while waves could go as high as 3.4 to 4.5 meters.