Sea travel suspended in Sorsogon ports

INQUIRER FILES

SANTA MAGDALENA, SORSOGON – All trips in the ports of Sorsogon were suspended on Sunday, September 1, after the province was placed under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 by the state weather bureau.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Depression Enteng

In an advisory, Captain Julian Bayawa Jr., acting commander of Sorsogon coast guard station, banned passenger and cargo vessels, including mini-bulk carriers (MBCs), from venturing into the sea as tropical depression “Enteng” continues to persist.

But, Bayawa made an exemption for Ro-ro (roll-on, roll-off) vessels that are carrying goods and plying the “main supply routes,” allowing them to travel to “minimize congestion in ports.”

Ro-ro vessels are required to comply with the certain reequirements set by the Coast Guard to be allowed to sail.

Only vessels carrying more than 300 gross tonnage are permitted and are advised not to exceed 75 percent of its capacity.

They are only allowed to travel during the daytime, and strict monitoring of the weather and the visibility in ports are encouraged.

Sorsogon Coast Guard reminded ro-ro vessels that will sail Sunday to “ensure that maximum precautionary measures are observed” before departing from their respective ports.

As of 2 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) South Luzon raised an orange warning level in Sorsogon, declaring the risk of flooding in low-lying areas due to intense rains.

Meanwhile, classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Sorsogon City are suspended on Monday, September 2, due to the inclement weather, an advisory issued by Mayor Ester Hamor said Sunday.

According to Hamor, the suspension was made to “assure the safety (of students and teachers) and to anticipate the possible effects of the weather system,” adding that it is the mandate of the city to ensure the general welfare of the people in times of calamities.