Sea travel in Bohol cancelled due to Tropical Storm ‘Vinta’

Stranded passengers at Tagbilaran Port have to re-schedule or re-book their trips as Bohol province is placed under storm signal no. 1 due to tropical depression “Vinta”. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—Mercy Ripolido purchased her ticket on Tuesday because she planned to spend Christmas with her family in Cebu.

But she had to stay in Bohol a little longer since her boat trip was cancelled on Thursday after the island-province was placed under storm signal number 1 due to Tropical Storm “Vinta.”

Ripolido, 49, said she hoped that the weather would finally clear so she could sail to Cebu before Christimas.

Several ferry passengers in Bohol were stranded on Thursday since all sea travel in the province had been cancelled, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Tagbilaran.

Seaman 2nd Class Nekolo Gonzales of PCG-Tagbilaran said that as of 11 a.m. Thursday, there were 370 stranded passengers in the province.

Of the number, 55 passengers were stranded at the Tubigon port, 195 at Ubay Port, and 100 at Talibon Port.

“It is still indefinite when the trips will resume,” said Gonzales. “We will wait for the 5 p.m. weather bulletin from Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).”

The state weather bureau warned of heavy rains and strong winds due to expected thunderstorms over Bohol.