Bicol ports cancel sea trips due to Tropical Depression Rosal
LEGAZPI CITY — Several ports suspended sea trips in the Bicol region on Saturday, December 10, after the low-pressure area intensified into a tropical depression.
Coast Guard Lieutenant Esperanza Lazaro, commander of Philippine Coast Guard Station Catanduanes, said in an advisory that all vessels from the Virac and San Andres ports bound to Tabaco and Bacacay ports in Albay were cancelled due to the Tropical Depression Rosal.
Lazaro said fishing boats, motor boats and other small water crafts were not allowed to go out to sea.
Gremil Alexis Naz, Office of Civil Defense Bicol spokesperson, said sea travels in Camarines Sur and Albay were also cancelled.
In its 11 a.m. advisory, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1 in Catanduanes; eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, San Jose, Tigaon and Sagñay); and the eastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu, Malilipot, Malinao and Tiwi).
Pagasa reported that Tropical Depression Rosal was spotted some 110 kilometers north-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 315 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.
Rosal has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 55 kilometers per hour, Pagasa added.
Meanwhile, Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman reminded the public to avoid the water and other related recreational activities in the eastern seaboard of the province due to possible river swelling, flooding and landslides.
The local disaster officials were advised to monitor the beach resorts and coastal areas and restrict small seacrafts from sailing.
In Camarines Sur, Governor Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte said in a memorandum on Friday, December 9, that all local disaster officers were advised to conduct an inventory of evacuation centers and review their evacuation plans.
Fisherfolks were not allowed to sail while residents near coastal areas were prohibited to conduct water activities.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol, along with local disaster risk reduction management officials and other line agencies are on standby beginning Saturday morning for possible deployment of their cluster response teams in anticipation of the effects of Rosal.
Jessar Adornado, OCD Bicol disaster risk reduction management division chief, said a pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) via teleconferencing was conducted in order to set the plans and preparations by disaster response agencies.
Based on the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) latest list released on Friday, there are hundreds of barangays in Bicol that are susceptible to landslides and flooding.
Some 57 villages in Camarines Norte, 50 in Camarines Sur, 59 in Catanduanes and two Masbate were identified as high risk for landslides.
Around 57 villages in Camarines Norte, 55 in Camarines Sur, 40 in Catanduanes and 42 in Masbate are considered as very high risk for flooding.
MA. APRIL MIER-MANJARES AND MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN INQ
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