Over 23,000 passengers stranded in PHL ports, says Coast Guard

A total of 23,789 passengers are stranded in ports across the country as of Tuesday afternoon due to inclement weather brought by Typhoon Ursula, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.

The stranded passengers are in Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Southern Tagalog, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, and Southern Visayas, the PCG said on its Facebook page.

“The operations of 3,253 rolling cargoes, 46 motorbancas, and 157 vessels are also temporarily suspended, while 86 vessels and seven motorbancas are taking shelter due to the weather condition,” the Coast Guard added.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, PCG spokesperson Captain Armand Balilo said they coordinated with the Department of Transportation to stop all sea travel in light of the storm signals raised by state weather bureau PAGASA.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, PAGASA placed over 40 areas in the Philippines under storm signals.

Amid complaints about the PCG’s strict implementation of the order to suspend sea travel, Balilo reminded the public that the measures being undertaken are for everyone’s safety.

“Minsan akala natin maaraw at kalmado ‘yung alon pero sa gitna baka lumakas at magkaroon ng aksidente at mananagot tayo sa pamahalaan at sa mga tao,” he said.

“Maraming nagagalit sa PCG pero umaapela po kami na ito’y para sa kaligtasan ng mga kababayan natin.”

Balilo added that all members of the Coast Guard are on duty despite the holidays for continuous monitoring of weather conditions and sea travel. — RSJ, GMA News