‘Ramon’ strands thousands in ports across the country

MANILA, Philippines—More than 5,700 passengers were stranded in various ports in at least 18 provinces as Tropical Depression “Ramon,” which weakened Wednesday from a tropical storm, traversed the Visayas islands, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.

Quoting reports from its provincial stations, PCG commandant Adm. Ramon Liwag said that as of 12 noon Wednesday, at total of 75 ships carrying 39 buses and 304 rolling cargoes were prevented from leaving ports in areas still under public storm Signal No. 1.

The 18 provinces, according to the PCG, are Cebu, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Batangas, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Quezon and Romblon.

The port of Matnog in Sorsogon had the most number of stranded passengers at 1,156, followed by Calapan in Oriental Mindoro (906); Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental (612); Iloilo City (530); Cagayan de Oro City (294) and Bato in Toledo City, Cebu (288).

Passenger vessels in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) regions were expected to stay put in ports there on Wednesday as Ramon continued its northwesterly path.

Coast Guard regulations forbid vessels of 1,000 gross tons and below from sailing when Signal No. 1 is raised in either the vessel’s origin, route or destination to ensure the safety of passengers, vessels and properties.

Vessels shall only be allowed to leave the port to take shelter from the storm and no passenger shall be carried while doing so.