Sea trips for small vessels halted due to gale warning

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – A gale warning was issued morning of Aug 5,2019 in Western Visayas, forcing the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to again cancel sea trips between Bacolod City and Iloilo City.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) said Western Visayas is expected to experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

PAGASA said the region can also experience 45 to 63 kilometers per hour winds, with sea conditions from rough to very rough and wave heights measured between 2.8 to 4.5 meters.

PCG-Bacolod station commander Lieutenant Rockcliff Buling said all vessels below the 250 gross tonnage are barred from leaving port.

Buling said only two vessels from ferry companies OceanJet Fast Ferries and Weesam Express were allowed to sail, although OceanJet has issued an advisory on its official social media page saying it has cancelled all trips between Iloilo and Bacolod until further notice.

Roll on-Roll off (RORO) services between Bacolod City and Dumangas, meanwhile, remain normal throughout the day, and there has been no stranded passengers noted at the Bredco port.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Buling also ordered a halt on all sea travel in Negros Occidental due to heavy rains in the province.

Buling made the decision in order to avoid sea mishaps similar to the capsized boats in Iloilo Strait.