MANILA, Philippines –Thousands of passengers remained stranded in various ports in the country on Wednesday even as the weather disturbance ‘Ramon’ has been downgraded into a tropical depression, a spokesperson from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente said that a total of 5,744 stranded passengers have been monitored in several ports in the country due to Ramon. Ports in Sorsogon had the bulk of stranded passengers with 1,196 followed by Calapan with 906 and Iloilo with 758 stranded passengers, said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, 314 persons were stranded in Cebu (Danao-26, Bato-288), 12 in Tacloban, 170 in Maasin, 286 in Surigao (Surigao-68, Lipata-218), 294 in Cagayan de Oro, 612 in Ozamiz, 273 in Albay (Tabaco-123, Pio Duran-150), 64 in Camarines Sur (Pasacao-59, Sabang-5), 239 in Bacolod (Bredco-119, Escalante-120), 177 in Caticlan (Caticlan-160, Boracay-17), five in Roxas, 180 in Batangas, 98 in Lucena, 140 in Mamburao, and 20 in Romblon.
The PCG has also monitored 240 trucks, 39 buses, 304 rolling cargoes, 75 vessels and 20 motorized boats.
Ricafrente reiterated PCG Commandant Admiral Ramon Liwag’s reminder to shipping companies to adhere to the PCG Memorandum Circular 01-09 or the “Guidelines on Movement of Vessel During Heavy Weather” which states that vessels that weigh 1000 gross tons and below will not be allowed to sail while signal number 1 was raised in their vessel’s origin, destination or route.
The following areas remain under signal number 1, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration: Luzon (Marinduque, Mindoro Provinces, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Southern Quezon, Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Masbate, Coron Island), Visayas (Samar Provinces, Leyte Provinces, Cebu, Bohol, Panay Island, Guimaras, Negros Provinces, Siquijor Island), and Mindanao (Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, Siargao Island).