TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—Call center agent Gerwin Yudelmo lined up at the ticket booth of a shipping company to travel to Cebu as early as 3 a.m.
Thinking he had no chance of getting a ticket, he decided to return home to Inabanga town, Bohol.
“I will just try again tomorrow,” said Yudelmo who waited for three hours.
Only a vessel from Fastcat of the Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (APFC) was allowed to leave Tubigon port at 5:30 a.m. on Monday (Aug 5).
Another boat, Lite Shipping, cancelled its 4 a.m. trip to Cebu due to mechanical problem.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) prevented vessels below 250 gross tons from leaving the ports starting at 5 a.m. on Monday after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a gale warning for the central and eastern seaboard of the Visayas.
PCG also prevented small boats from setting sail.
In Tagbilaran City, the Ocean Jet management cancelled its 10:40 a.m trip to Cebu and 12:10 p.m. trip to Dumaguete./TSB