PPA says ports back to normal operations after Paeng onslaught

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Tuesday said several ports in the country were back to normal operations following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

“Bukas na ang mga pantalan natin maliban sa mangilan-ngilan halimbawa sa Culion, sarado pa po siya wala pang biyahe. Pero lahat po ng pantalan natin ay back to normal operations na po at tuloy na ang mga biyahe,” PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(Our ports are open except for the port in Culion, it is still closed and there are no trips yet. But all ports are back to normal operations.)

Santiago said among the ports affected due to the severe tropical storm were in Quezon, Catanduanes, Mindoro, and Batangas City.

He said there are several passengers stranded in ports, however, these will be reduced due to the increased number of sea trips.

“Mayroon pa rin pong pailan-ilan [stranded passengers] dahil nagta-try po tayo mag-catch up sa mga biyahe pong naantala noong nakaraang araw pero ia-anticipate po within the next few hours eh mababawasan po nang mababawasan 'yan habang dumadami po 'yung biyahe ng mga barko,” he said.

(There are still a few stranded passengers because we are trying to catch up on the trips that were delayed the previous day, but within the next few hours, it will be reduced gradually as the number of sea trips increases.)

The PPA general manager said passengers are expected to fill the ports starting today until tomorrow after this year’s Undas.

“Inaasahan po natin simula ngayong araw na ito hanggang bukas po ay magsisibalikan na po at babalik na sa trabaho 'yung mga kababayan natin na 'ika nga umuwi sa kanilang probinsya para alalahanin 'yung ating mga namayapang mahal sa buhay,” he said.

(We expect that from today until tomorrow, passengers will return to work after they went home to their provinces to visit and remember their departed loved ones.)

Santiago also advised passengers to book their tickets early to secure their trips and avoid experiencing inconvenience in ports.

"Ang aming abiso lang po sa kanila ay makipag-ugnayan sila sa mga barkong sasakyan nila sigurado lang po nila 'yung tamang schedule. Bagama't may schedule na,  sigurado pong naghahabol 'yung shipping lines natin 'yung mga barko po natin sa mga pasaherong nastranded natin noong nakaraang araw,” he said.

(We advised them to contact their ships to make sure they have the right schedule. Although there is a schedule, our ships increased their sea travels for passengers who were stranded in the recent days.)

“Mas maaga, mas maganda, tatlong araw hanggang isang linggo ay makapagpabook na kayo para sigurado kayo sa biyahe ninyo. Mahirap po kasi 'yung aasa na parang chance passenger tayo lalo na kung kasama natin ang pamilya natin hindi natin sigurado kung ma-accomodate ang buong pamilya natin baka may maiwan o hindi makasakay dahil sa kakulangan ng biyahe at naghahabol pa,” he added.

(We must book earlier, at least three days or a week. They must book earlier to ensure the schedule of their trips. It's hard to be a chance passenger, especially if our family is traveling with us, we are not sure if our whole family can be accommodated, maybe someone will be left behind or not be able to ride because of the lack of sea trips.)

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 160 cities and municipalities were under state of calamity due to the effects of Paeng, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, another cyclone, Tropical Depression Queenie (international name: Banyan), is expected to bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga and Davao Oriental, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.—AOL, GMA News