CEBU CITY, Philippines—Sea vessels were prevented from leaving port here starting Thursday evening while classes in all levels in Eastern Visayas were suspended due to the approach of Tropical Storm Sendong.
Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Rolando Punzalan said around 21 vessels were not allowed to sail from various ports in Cebu since 6 p.m. on Thursday, affecting 2,554 passengers. Many of the passengers, however, asked for ticket refunds, Punzalan said.
Among of those barred from sailing was the Manila-bound MV General Malvar because it would have to pass through the Camotes Sea, which was under Signal No. 2 on Thursday.
As of Friday morning, Punzalan said he decided to ground all vessels in Cebu after getting the Pagasa weather bulletin at 6 a.m. that placed the entire province of Cebu and outlying islands under Signal No. 1.
Punzalan asked small boat operators and fishermen not to go out the sea at this time because the storm was approaching.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m. Friday, said Storm Sendong was estimated at 180 kilometers east, southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with sustained winds center winds of 75 kilometers per hour gusting to 90 kph.
Placed under Signal No. 2 were the provinces of Southern Leyte, Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu and southern Negros.
Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Northern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras were under Signal No. 1.
But text messages from radio listeners in the Camotes Islands and Bohol claimed that the weather in their areas was not rainy but even sunny.
Cebu City experienced a downpour on Thursday night but the weather improved on Friday.
In Southern Leyte, all classes in the elementary, secondary and college levels were suspended, said Efledo Hernandez, head of the provincial disaster management office.
“All LGUs in Southern Leyte have been alerted and contingency plans are already prepared. Generators and heavy equipment are on standby,” Hernandez told Inquirer in mobile phone interview.
But in Tacloban City, several elementary schools went ahead with their Christmas parties since it was sunny Friday morning.
In Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, for instance, the rains were not strong enough to trigger floods or landslides, said Chereyln Lubang, administrative officer of the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas.
On Feb. 17, 2006, thousands of people were killed when a massive landslide buried the entire Barangay Guinsaugon in Saint Bernard.
It was still business as usual in the seaports in Allen, Northern Samar, as no restrictions were imposed by the Philippine Coast Guard on ships bound for Luzon, said Lubang.
“But we are asking our fishermen not to venture to the open seas during this time as it would be dangerous for them to do so,” he said.