The Coast Guard stopped the MV St. Thomas of Aquinas and MV St. Leo The Great from proceeding to Manila because the capital was placed under Storm Signal No. 1, said Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Western Visayas Coast Guard commander.
The passengers ships both operated by 2Go Travel are carrying 973 passengers.
Two cargo ships in Iloilo and another in Bacolod were also prevented from leaving the ports.
Ybañez said the ships would be allowed to depart upon the scrapping of the storm signals in their travel path and destinations.
The trips of passenger boats plying between Iloilo and Guimaras were briefly suspended Monday morning due to rough seas and heavy rains. The trips resumed but the maximum load of the boats have been reduced and rescue boats have been placed on standby.
The passenger boats travelling between Caticlan and Boracay in Aklan were also transferred to the jetty ports in Tabon in Caticlan and Tambisaan in Boracay due to strong winds and big waves.
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