Caloy strands 1,781 passengers

Some of the stranded passengers sleep off while others play with their children outside the Pier 3 terminal building. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

At least 1,781 passengers were stranded in Central Visayas yesterday after the Coast Guard barred vessels from sailing due to the presence of Tropical Depression Caloy.
Majority of the stranded passengers or 1,321 were in Cebu, while 209 were stuck in Tagbilaran, Bohol province and 251 in Dumaguete City, Negros Occidental.

The Coast Guard prohibited vessels from leaving port after Storm Signal No. 1 was raised in Cebu and provinces South of Cebu.

It lifted the suspension after tropical storm “Caloy” was downgraded into a Low Pressure Area (LPA) after 5 p.m. yesterday.

“We have resumed the sea voyages. It is the prerogative of the company if they will continue to sail,” Coast Guard Station Commander Rodolfo Villajuan said.

Among the stranded passengers in Cebu was Charito Lofranco, a helper headed home to Bohol from Manila. Lofranco was on her way to

Inabanga for a vacation after working for two years in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

“It’s a hassle but I will just have to wait until they allow us to go on our way,” she said.

The Divinagracia family of Badian town also waited at the port terminal for the Coast Guard order allowing vessels to resume their trips.

Lilibeth and Agustin Divinagracia said they already bought tickets from the Trans Asia office for their trip. “We have no choice, we would find it difficult to return to southern Cebu,” Lilibeth said.

Last Saturday the Coast Guard also rescued 21 persons, including 14 foreigners, from a motorized boat off Cauayan town in Negros Occidental after one of the vessel’s outriggers snapped.  No one was injured.

The foreigners rescued from the damaged boat included nine citizens of France, two from Switzerland, one each from Mexico, Germany and Spain, based on a report from Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Western Visayas Coast Guard commander.  / With an Inquirer report