Catanduanes map. INQUIRER FILES
VIRAC, Catanduanes — Suspension of work, classes and trips of all sea vessels in Catanduanes has been lifted Thursday, April 13, after Tropical Depression “Amang” moved further north of Bicol region.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) removed the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 in the province in its 5 a.m. bulletin, prompting a declaration from Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua.
Cua said in his advisory Thursday that due to the improved weather conditions, suspension of classes in all levels, at public and private schools, and work in government offices can now resume.
In a separate advisory, the Philippine Coastguard (PCG) Catanduanes announced at around 5 a.m. the resumption of sea trips in the ports of Virac and San Andres.
Following the resumption of sea trips, passengers immediately flocked to the San Andres port to catch the first trip of the MV Regina ferry boat at 6:30 a.m.
Maria Alyssa Torres, 22, one of the passengers who lined up at the ticketing station in the port, said in an interview that she was supposed to travel last April 11, when sea trips got suspended due to “Amang.”
“Right after seeing the advisory in a facebook post of DOST Pagasa about the resumption of trips, I immediately rushed to the San Andres port to catch the first trip,” Torres said.
Catanduanes was placed under typhoon signal No. 1 on Tuesday morning (April 11).
Meanwhile, Pagasa said that TWCS No. 1 remained hoisted in Camarines Norte, northwestern portion of Camarines Sur, eastern portion of Laguna, northern and eastern portions of Quezon including Polilo islands, eastern portion of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, and the central and southern portions of Aurora.
In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the state weather bureau located the center of “Amang:” in the vicinity of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, with a maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 55 kph. – Jona Mae Camacho, contributor