CEBU CITY–Bad weather forced some delegates of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) to cancel island hopping activities, according to Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Agapito Bibat.
Bibat said some of the delegates had a tour package with the Department of Tourism including visits to tourist spots and cultural and historical sites, among others.
Those who were supposed to use small motorboats for island hopping within Mactan Island did not push through with the tour due to the gale warning issued by the weather bureau.
READ: IEC delegates advised to bring jackets, umbrellas due to expected rain
Those who were scheduled to visit the tourist spots in Bohol were told to board a bigger vessel of Lite Shipping at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
“But they were forewarned about the sea condition, which is moderate to rough,” Bibat said.
Because the gale warning was prevailing over Cebu, Bibat said vessels with 250 gross tonnage and below were not allowed to sail.
On Wednesday, 178 passengers were stranded in different ports of Cebu City and different towns as of noon after 26 vessels and 11 motorbancas were grounded due to the gale warning.
The bigger vessels continue to serve the Cebu City-Tubigon and Tagbilaran City routes, but several fastcraft in these routes were suspended, as well as those for Getafe town in Bohol.
Other routes affected were Danao City to Camotes Island in northern Cebu, Hagnaya wharf in San Remegio town to Sta. Fe town on Bantayan Island, Santander and Samboan towns bound for Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, and Toledo City to San Carlos City in Negros Oriental.
Sea travel for Ormoc City and other parts of Leyte were also affected. CDG
READ: Heavy traffic in Cebu City due to IEC road closures