Visayas suspends, limits non-essential travels so as to aid Bicol

SEA TRIP. Roll-on, roll-off ships at Matnog port in Sorsogon bound for Allen port in Northern Samar in this Oct. 25, 2024 photo. The Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has imposed a temporary suspension or limit of non-essential travels from Visayas to Mindanao so these do not hamper post-disaster response in the Bicol Region. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Ports Authority)

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Non-essentail travels from Visayas to Mindanao has been suspended or limited by the Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) so as not to hamper post-disaster response in the Bicol region.

In a memorandum issued late Monday, the RDRRMC enjoins all concerned agencies and local governments to observe the suspension and limit of all non-essential voyages, and land travel to and from Visayas and Mindanao which are not related to response operations in Bicol.

The suspension took effect Tuesday and will be enforced until activities in the Bicol Region return to normal after the devastation of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

“This action is essential to the ongoing relief or response efforts for the affected communities. This will also avoid further congestion in all entry and exit points of the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas,” the RDRRMC said in its memorandum.

The measure is meant to alleviate the current shortage of fuel in the area, hampering humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

Non-essential travel covered by the suspension are tourism and recreational travel, business and corporate visits, government travel, personal or private errands, commercial deliveries of non-essential goods, and non-critical construction and maintenance travel.

Priorities for the nautical highway travel are medical evacuations and emergency medical response, delivery of humanitarian supplies, search-and-rescue operations, utility restoration crews, government and relief personnel, logistical support for evacuation centers, and reinforcement and security travel.

“By focusing on essential travel, roadways to and from Visayas and Mindanao remain clear for vehicles directly involved in lifesaving and logistical support, reducing congestion and ensuring swift relief delivery to our countrymen in affected communities,” the memorandum states.

The Matnog ferry terminal in Sorsogon is the exit point from Luzon to Eastern Visayas, while Allen Port in Northern Samar is the region’s entry from Luzon.

These ports form part of the northeastern seaboard nautical highway that links the country’s three major island groups — Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (PNA)

READ: Over 2,000 passengers stranded in Sorsogon ports due to Kristine