Bicol fishers banned from sailing as new storm nears

LEGAZPI CITY –– Fishermen across Bicol region were banned from sailing starting Thursday, Oct. 29, in anticipation of stormy weather this weekend, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the region said.

OCD said the “no-sailing” policy for fisherfolk was issued as the region prepares for the entry of Tropical Depression “Rolly” (international name Goni) into the Philippine Area of Responsibility this weekend.

OCD Bicol director Claudio Yucot has asked various local disaster councils in the region to strictly implement the directive to ensure that no lives would be lost due to the upcoming weather disturbance, said the agency’s regional spokesperson, Gremil Alexis Naz, on Thursday.

The measure would prevent a similar incident that left five people dead at the height of Typhoon “Quinta” last Sunday.

Among the fatalities were three fishermen who went out to fish despite the sailing ban before Quinta battered the region last Sunday, Oct. 25.

Five other fishermen from the region were still missing as of Thursday, Oct. 29.

Fishermen may resume fishing upon lifting of gale warnings in respective seaboards and the weather condition gets back to normal, the OCD Bicol said.

The OCD directive also called on the local disaster council to initiate pre-emptive evacuation on Saturday in areas prone to flood, lahar, landslide, and storm once heavy rains and winds occur due to the tropical depression.

Quinta has earlier left some P1.2 billion worth of damage to the region’s agriculture and infrastructure.

ZB