‘No-sailing’ policy lifted in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY—Close to 2,000 stranded passengers in the ports of Sorsogon and Masbate were allowed to board their ships on Tuesday after the Philippine Coast Guard lifted the “no-sailing” policy as Tropical Depression “Amang” weakened into a low pressure area.

Akim Berces, technical officer of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol, said only 133 passengers from the ports of Pasacao and Tamban in Camarines Sur remained stranded because of the bad weather.

He said decampment of evacuees was also reported in Sorsogon with 65 families.

In Albay, the decampment of evacuees was left to the discretion of the respective local governments, said Eugene Escobar, specialist of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Office.

There were 2,319 families or 8,319 people who sought shelter in various evacuation centers in the province.

In Guinobatan, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has decamped 887 families (3,038 persons) living in four

villages vulnerable to lahar flow at the foot of Mayon Volcano. /lzb