Gale warning halts small vessel from sailing in south Luzon, Visayas
Pagasa weather update
LEGAZPI CITY – Small vessels were banned from venturing out to the seas in south Luzon and Visayas after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised a gale warning on Tuesday, Feb. 13, due to the prevailing effects of northeast monsoon or “amihan.”
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau warned areas in the eastern seaboard of South Luzon and Visayas of strong waves with anticipated height of 2.8 to 4.5 meters high.
The affected areas include the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, the eastern coasts of Albay and Sorsogon, and some areas in northern and eastern Samar.
According to Pagasa, these places are expected to experience “cloudy skies and scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.”
Small fishing boats are discouraged from venturing into the sea, emphasizing that “sea travel is risky” due to “rough to very rough” sea conditions.
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Large vessels operating in the areas affected are advised to take “appropriate measures” in continuing their operations.
“Operating in these conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessels,” said the state weather bureau.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Sorsogon issued a sea travel advisory in accordance to the gale warning, directing the towns of Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, Santa Magdalena and Matnog to impose restrictions on small sea vessels.
Under the advisory, sea vessels with 250 gross tonnages and below are banned from sailing, while large vessels are alerted of big waves.
In Matnog town, also in Sorsogon, only motor bancas are temporarily disallowed while the trips of Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessels in Matnog Port are still ongoing, said the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Matnog.
“We have deployed our personnels to different beaches and (coastal areas) here to make sure that no small-scale fishermen can operate,” said CGSS Matnog in an advisory.
Meanwhile, Achilles Galindes, division manager of Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Matnog, said in a phone interview that while the port operations continue, they are still affected by the “inclement weather condition.”
“There have been delays in the trips of our vessels due to this inclement weather,” Galindes said. “Some of the boat captains, because they have discretionary power, whether there is advisory or not, they can decide (not to push through) if they can see that it’s unsafe. If there are big waves and strong winds, they cancel their own trips.”
As of writing, no canceled trips and stranded passengers in Matnog Port have been recorded despite the weather condition.
In case of disruptions and suspensions of vessel trips, Galindes said that the PPA is offering alternative routes for affected passengers through their other ports in Bicol.
“We have ports in Pio Duran, Albay and in Pilar, Sorsogon. The PPA is offering these alternative routes in cases of suspension of vessel trips. We also advise our passengers to consider these routes,” he said. Clarence Gillego, INQUIRER intern
