By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Around 800 passengers were stranded in ports across the country on Friday after Typhoon Inday (international name Bavi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon forced the suspension of sea travel in several regions, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
In its latest advisory, the PCG reported that 789 passengers, including truck drivers and cargo helpers accompanying 249 rolling cargoes, were unable to continue their journeys due to rough seas and strong winds that disrupted maritime operations.
Authorities also recorded 13 stranded vessels and 33 motor bancas, while 158 vessels and 145 motor bancas sought shelter in safer ports as adverse weather conditions persisted.
Southern Tagalog registered the highest number of stranded travelers, with 271 passengers and 23 rolling cargoes affected in the ports of Real, Jomalig, Dinahican, Panukulan, Lucena, Alabat, Roxas, Pola, Romblon, San Agustin, Looc, Batangas, Bauan, Balayan, Tingloy, Lemery, Anilao, and Balanacan. A total of 109 vessels and 118 motor bancas also took shelter in the region.
In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 130 passengers and one vessel remained stranded at Bongao Pier.
Central Visayas recorded 94 stranded passengers, 97 rolling cargoes, six vessels, and 30 motor bancas across several ports, including Polambato, Daanbantayan, Talibon, Ubay, Pilar, and Poro. Another 18 vessels and 17 motor bancas were sheltering in the area.
Western Visayas reported 138 stranded passengers and 108 rolling cargoes in the ports of Caticlan Jetty, Parola, and Lapuz, while five vessels and one motor banca remained anchored for safety.
In Palawan, 64 passengers and four vessels were stranded in the ports of Cuyo, Coron, and El Nido.
Meanwhile, the Bicol Region logged 92 stranded passengers, 21 rolling cargoes, two vessels, and three motor bancas in several ports, with additional vessels taking refuge from the worsening weather.
Although no passengers were stranded in North Western Luzon, North Eastern Luzon, and Southern Visayas, several vessels and motor bancas remained sheltered in ports as a precaution against dangerous sea conditions.
Beyond maritime operations, the PCG also intensified humanitarian assistance in typhoon-hit communities. Personnel from the PCG District North Eastern Luzon distributed 500 family food packs to affected residents, particularly fisherfolk, in Santa Ana, Cagayan, as relief efforts continued amid the onslaught of Typhoon Inday.
ia/xf
