Signal number 2 in southern Cebu; storm to exit Sunday

As storm signal number 2 was declared in southern Cebu, nearly 3,000 ship passengers were grounded due to Tropical Storm Sendong yesterday.

The storm will exit the country by tomorrow morning.

The Cebu Coast Guard yesterday prevented all vessels from leaving to different destinations, including Manila, due to rough seas.

Moderate to heavy rains fell in Cebu yesterday where signal number 1 was hoisted in the northern part of the province, but there were no immediate reports of major flooding or damage.

Five areas in Visayas to be directly affected by Sendong are southern Leyte, Bohol, southern Cebu, southern Negros and Siquijor Island.

Rains and winds of 60 to 100 kph are expected as the storm moves close to Central Visayas, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Oscar Tabada of Pagasa-Mactan said residents living in low-lying areas and mountains should take precautions.

He said Sendong intensified as it moved west of the Philippine territory with center winds of 75 to 90 kilometers per hour.

The storm is expected 100 kilometers southwest of Dipolog City this morning and 190 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa City.

Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Rolando Punzalan said he first suspended 21 vessels at 6 p.m. last Thursday and all vessels yesterday.

The cancellation stranded 2,908 passengers. Many of them opted for refunds for their ship fare and went home.

Most of the affected passengers came from Bohol and Leyte provinces.

Among the trips suspended was the voyage of Manila-bound MV General Malvar since its route covers the Camotes Sea, which is very rough even in normal weather conditions.

Punzalan said all vessels in Cebu were grounded because Pagasa upgraded its weather bulletin and placed southern Cebu under signal number 2 with Bohol, southern Leyte and Siquijor.

Punzalan asked small boat operators and fishermen not to go to the sea at this time due to the approaching storm.

While Cebu didn’t experience heavy rains yesterday, Punzalan said the seas were rough.

Tropical Storm Sendong was expected to make landfall yesterday afternoon in Oriental Mindoro.

The Provincial Capitol said storm notices were sent out to mayors in Cebu as early as last Wednesday.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia told reporters yesterday that Pagasa informed them about Sendong.

“Because of this change of course, I think there’s heavy rain now in the southern part of Cebu,” she said.

Garcia said the mayors, based on the previous visit of Typhoon Ramon, are more prepared.

“They already have systems in place for risk reduction and management. They are already ready,” she said.

In southern Leyte, classes in all levels were suspended.

“All LGUs in Southern Leyte have been alerted and contingency plans are already prepared. Generators and heavy equipment are on standby,” said Efledo Hernandez, head of the provincial disaster management office.

But in Tacloban City, several elementary schools went ahead with their Christmas parties since it was a sunny Friday morning.

In Saint Bernard, southern Leyte, the rains were not strong enough to trigger floods or landslides.

No vessel of any size and tonnage is allowed to sail if a Public Storm Warning Signal is hoisted over its origin, route or destination. Reporter Marian Z. Codilla and Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Carmel Loise Matus with an Inquirer report