Kabayan strands 5,400 as sea voyages suspended

MANILA, Philippines — About 5,400 people were stranded in various seaports in the Visayas and Mindanao as of noon yesterday as Tropical Depression Kabayan weakened and continued to move across the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said they have received reports that some 5,400 people were stranded in various ports across the country, of whom around 2,000 were in the Visayas and Mindanao while a bigger bulk of around 3,400 were in the North Harbor in Manila.

“Once the PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration) says that the weather has improved, then we would lift the suspension of sea travel and allow vessels to resume their travel,” Balilo added.

He said the PCG is on heightened alert because of Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Pasko and that the safety and security of the travelers and the vessels’ crew are their primary concern.

As this developed, domestic shipping line 2Go is appealing to the PCG and other concerned government agencies to review the policy on suspending sea travel during inclement weather because it delays the scheduled departure of their vessels and causes inconvenience to their passengers.

Sharon Ngo, vice president-business unit head for 2Go Sea Solutions, explained that their two ships at the North Harbor are fully booked.

The M/V Masagana that would ply the Manila-Cebu-Cagayan de Oro route and the M/V Michael the Archangel that would traverse the Manila-Dumaguete-Zamboanga route were supposed to have left port last Sunday.

“We agreed for our passengers to embark (on) the two vessels and our ships are ready to go, but we are still waiting for the ‘go signal’ for our ships to proceed with their travel,” Ngo said.

Each of 2Go’s vessels could accommodate around 1,600 to 1,800 passengers.

The shipping line has two other vessels waiting at the anchorage area. They were scheduled to leave at 6 p.m. yesterday, but could not yet dock at the port because the M/V Masagana and M/V Michael the Archangel were occupying their slots.

The company was unable to follow its schedule because several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao have been placed under