SEA trips in Negros Occidental will continue on Saturday, December 23, amid intermittent rains brought by Tropical Storm Vinta, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Vingno, chief of Coast Guard Station-Bacolod, said on Friday that operations of fastcraft and roll on, roll off vessels will proceed this weekend.
“There are no affected trips in northern Negros and Bacolod City, thus sea trips are normal,” he added.
Vingno said there were not even stranded passengers in ports although there were delays because of fully booked schedules.
Although southern Negros Occidental was placed under Signal Number 1 as of 5 p.m. Friday, Vingno assured travelers that they have nothing to worry because there is no threat to the weather.
Vingno also said that security in ports is in place.
“Everything is in order,” he added.
Since December 18, the Coast Guard has been on heightened alert status as they expect influx of passengers this holiday season.
Passenger assistance desks have set up and Coast Guard personnel with K9 dogs assist the passengers and check the baggages.
Boat trips from Ajuy, Iloilo bound for Victorias City, Negros Occidental were cancelled Friday afternoon due to rough weather.
Lt. Commander Ramil Palabrica of the Coast Guard Station-Iloilo said there were no stranded passengers as they have decided to go home.
Boat trips from other ports in Iloilo continued but Palabrica warned that they might cancel travel if the weather would become unmanageable.
As the Coast Guard is expecting influx of passengers starting this weekend for the holiday season, Palabrica advised them to seek the help from assistance desks in ports and terminals.
Palabrica said that small fishermen were also advised not to venture into the sea.
Found dead
The fisherman who went missing on December 19 after his motorized banca capsized in the waters of South Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo, was found dead Thursday afternoon at the shoreline of Barangay Dayhagan, Pilar, Capiz.
The man was identified as 33-year-old Johncel Condello, a resident of South Gigantes Island.
Palabrica said the victim was positively identified by his immediate family members.
Condello, together with his two companions, Ricky Bolahado, 18, and Rowel Mahusay, 22, departed Tuesday around 10 a.m. on board a motorized banca from Bancal Port bound for Naburut Island.
Re-intensified
Tropical Storm Vinta, which has weakened into a tropical depression Friday afternoon, has re-intensified Saturday morning and is now moving towards Southern Palawan province, the weather state bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 10 a.m., Saturday, the center of the tropical storm was in the vicinity of west northwest of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Pagasa said Vinta was packing maximum winds of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 95 kph.
Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 2 over Southern Palawan while TCSWS Number 1 is hoisted over the rest of Palawan.
Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1 and 2, the state weather bureau said.
The public is still advised to take precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides, coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates. (with reports from PNA/VoxPop Philippines)
