THE two-day suspension of all sea trips in Negros Occidental due to Tropical Storm “Basyang” left about 2,000 passengers stranded in different ports of the province.
“Basyang” was downgraded from a tropical storm to tropical depression after it made landfall in Surigao del Sur Tuesday morning.
As of 8 p.m. last night, Storm Signal No. 1 was still hoisted in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Siquijor, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, southern Leyte, Palawan, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and northern section of Zamboanga del Norte.
State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said moderate to heavy rains will persist in these areas in the next 24 hours.
Due to the weather, the Philippine Coast Guard Bacolod Station suspended all sea trips of fastcraft and roll-on, roll-off vessels in the province since Monday afternoon, which affected 1,932 passengers.
Affected sea trips were fastcrafts bound for Iloilo City from Bacolod City and vessels plying from various ports, which include San Carlos City to Toledo, Cebu; Escalante City to Tabuelan, Cebu; and Cadiz City to Bantayan Island, Cebu.
Vingno said 15 vacationers were also stranded in Lakawon Island in Cadiz City due to suspension of trips.
They couldn’t get to mainland Cadiz because motor bancas cannot travel, he added.
Vingno said sea trips may resume today, but it will still depend on the weather situation and advisory of the state weather bureau.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division, said there were no reported flooding or landslides when “Basyang” traversed southern Negros last night.
He said the Provincial Government continues to monitor the weather situation.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the suspension of classes in all public and private pre-schools in the city until Wednesday.
Classes in all public and private elementary and secondary schools in Bacolod will resume today, the mayor said.