1,306 passengers stranded in Bohol ports due to storm

Passengers stranded in Bohol ports due to Tropical storm Samuel. INQUIRER VISAYAS

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – Jovenal Edquilag was bound to Dumaguete City on Monday morning to attend a conference.

He arrived at 10 a.m. to catch his 12:30 p.m. trip to Dumaguete, a two-hour trip from the capital city of Tagbilaran.

He was disappointed because he was told by a staff of the fastcraft OceanJet that the 12:10 p.m. trip was canceled due to Tropical Storm “Samuel.”

Like other passengers, Edquilag, a community volunteer, waited for an hour to wait for further announcement.

But still, all boat trips to and from Bohol were canceled. He decided to have his ticket refunded.

According to Seaman Second Class Anwar John Sinajon of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Tagbilaran Station, at least 1,306 passengers were stranded in all ports of Bohol province on Monday noon due to Samuel as storm signal no. 1 was up over the province.

“All boats were canceled for the safety of the passengers,” Sinajon said.
At least 650 passengers were stranded in Tagbilaran Port, 150 passengers in Tubigon port, 98 passengers in Ubay port, 200 passengers in Jagna port and 348 passengers in Getafe port.

Forty 40 tourists, who were set to take the island-hopping tour, were stranded on Panglao Island.

Cargos and motor bancas were also prohibited from sailing.

Some billboards along Gallares Street were also rolled down in anticipation of the strong winds brought by Samuel.