SEA travel and bus operations with RoRo ccomponent have been suspended in all areas covered by storm alerts due to Tropical Depression Usman effective Thursday, December 27.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the suspension Thursday morning.
In a Notice to Mariners issued Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard Station Cebu ordered the suspension of trips of all types of vessels/watercraft plying the routes to and from Sorsogon, Masbate and Ticao Island in Luzon; Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern Cebu and Camotes Islands in the Visayas; and Dinagat Island and Surigao City in Mindanao.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also ordered the suspension of bus operations with RoRo trip component in all areas placed under Tropical Storm Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 1.
State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised TCWS No. 1 over Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands.
Signal No. 1 is also hoisted over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern Cebu, Camotes Islands, Aklan, Capiz, northern Iloilo, northern Negros Occidental and Dinagat Island.
Pagasa said "Usman" maintained its strength although it has slowed down as it moved closer to Eastern Visayas.
At 10 a.m. Thursday, "Usman" was spotted at 450 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte or 440 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
It is still packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.
It is moving west at 15 kph and is still forecast to make landfall in Eastern Samar on Friday. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)