Coast Guard stops boats in Bohol from sailing

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — At least 127 passengers of seven vessels and four motorbancas were stranded on Thursday after these were not allowed to leave the ports due to tropical depression “Marce.”

Coast Guard-Tagbilaran Station Commander Benjie Quinisio said these vessels and motorbancas were grounded after Bohol was placed under Storm Signal Number 1.

Among those stranded was Cita Jumawan who was bound for Larena town in Siquijor onboard Lite Ferry 6 from Cebu City.

When the boat reached Tagbilaran Port around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the Coast Guard (PCG)-Tagbilaran didn’t allow the boat to sail for Larena at 8. p.m.

Juamawan said she had to wait at the boat until the PCG would give the green light to leave the port.

Aside from Bohol, other provinces that were placed under Signal Number 1 were Cebu, Southern Leyte, Siquijor, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Surigao Del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin. CBB/rga