Monday’s rain caused flooding in a portion of D. Jakosalem St. near the Archbishop’s Residence. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Some 569 passengers were stranded in different ports of Cebu, or 300 more from last Monday, due to a gale warning raised by the state weather bureau Pagasa in the Visayas.
Commander Agapito Bibat of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station said 29 passenger vessels, 42 rolling cargo vessels and nine motor bancas were not allowed to sail.
“These vessels that were not allowed to sail were below 250 gross tons because of the wave height that can reach from 3.4 to 4.5 meters,” Bibat told Cebu Daily News.
These vessels were scheduled to leave for Ormoc City in Leyte, Sibulan town and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, Bantayan Island and Camotes Islands in northern Cebu.
“But ship masters with vessels above 250 gross tons could still decide and cancel trips if they think that it would be risky for them and for their passengers,” he said.
Bibat said the fast craft St. Jhudiel returned to Cebu due to strong waves.
“The vessel left for Ormoc at 5:15 a.m. There were 106 passengers on board,” he said.
Bibat said no motor bancas will be allowed to leave to ensure the safety of passengers.
He said Coast Guard personnel are stationed in Pasil and on the islands to check on the watercraft.
Bibat also advised fishermen not to venture out to sea.
The gale warning hoisted over Central Visayas also postponed plans for delegates of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) to go on an island-hopping trip.
Bibat said 31 IEC delegates from New York were scheduled to depart the Punta Engaño Hilton Wharf at 11 a.m. yesterday.
“They planned to visit Hilutungan Island and Nalusuan Island,” Bibat said.
Bibat said other IEC delegates also have a scheduled Bohol countryside tour.
“We told organizers that motor bancas or vessels that will be used for the island hopping must be registered with the Maritime Industra Authority (Marina),” he said.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is monitoring flood and landslide-prone areas.
Riza Joy Hernandez of RDRRMC told reporters that based on Pagasa-Mactan’s forecast, the rain experienced in Metro Cebu may last until Sunday morning.
“This is a big challenge for us especially that Cebu is holding an international event. We will intensify our preparations especially in areas prone to landslides and floods,” she said.
Some of the areas being monitored are upland barangays and the coastal barangays of Pasil and Talisay.