Port passengers increased after Odette –PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that the number of inbound passengers rose by 25,200 or 74%, while outbound passengers rose by 22,996 or 62% in all ports nationwide after Typhoon Odette’s onslaught.

As of Monday, PCG monitored a total of 60,236 outbound port passengers and 59,039 inbound port passengers.

The increase was compared to Sunday’s report of the number passengers, when Typhoon Odette was just about to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Meanwhile, a total of 782 vessels and 676 motor bancas were inspected by deployed frontline personnel in 15 PCG districts.

A decrease of 19 or 2% inspected vessels and 142 or 17% inspected motor bancas were also noted by PCG, compared to the previous consolidated report for the “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Pasko 2021” by the Department of Transportation.

Stranded

Meanwhile, as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, the PCG reported a total of 244 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers, and 187 rolling cargoes stranded in Eastern and Central Visayas.

Of this number, 194 people and 187 cargoes were from the Port of San Ricardo in Eastern Visayas, while 50 people were from Pier 1, Cebu City in Central Visayas.

The PCG has placed its districts, stations, and sub-stations on “heightened alert'” from December 16, 2021 to January 5, 2022 to manage the influx of port passengers in the provinces.

PCG also reminded the riding public to carefully check the existing ordinances of their destination as local government units have different health requirements prior to entry. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News