PCG Visayas halts small vessels from sailing due to big waves

Passengers wait patiently outside the Tagbilaran City pier in Bohol province after sea vessels were not allowed to sail to Cebu on Friday due to inclement weather affecting the country. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

CEBU CITY—At least 200 passengers were stranded on Friday when the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas barred vessels with less than 250 gross tonnage from sailing after the seas were experiencing big waves.

Only larger vessels were permitted to sail, said PCG-Central Visayas officer Eljohn Morillo.

Among those affected were 16 motorized bancas and small boats from Danao City to Camotes Island, Cebu City to Larena in Siquijor, and Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Mactan Island had not issued gale warning signals in the seaboards of Cebu and Bohol on Friday morning but waves were apparently high and could endanger the lives of people boarding light and small seacrafts.

Pagasa warned that the bad weather may continue to generate big waves.

Young men head to the Booy Beach in Tagbilaran City in Bohol despite the rains and strong waves. Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas

Here is the partial list of boat trips cancelled on Friday, October 20:

1 p.m.  trip of Oceanjet 188  bound for Tagbilaran City

1 p.m.  trip of Lite Ferries bound for Naval

1:15 p.m. trip of St. Seathiel bound for Tagbilaran

9p.m.  trip of Georich bound for Dapitan