PCG suspends more sea trips due to Paeng

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday announced more suspension of sea trips due to the threat of Tropical Storm Paeng.

Through a notice, the Coast Guard Station (CGS) in Central Cebu, Camotes, Eastern Bohol, and Western Leyte enforced temporary suspension on trips in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal for all types of seacraft.

The CGS Capiz also imposed suspension for all trips from Roxas City to Romblon, and vice versa.

Meanwhile, the CGS Ilocos Norte suspended the trips of small sea crafts in northern and western seaboards of the province. Larger vessels, on the other hand, were alerted of big waves.

From 12 midnight to 4 a.m., the PCG monitored moderate to rough seas in Bicol and Eastern Visayas. A total of 989 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers; 478 rolling cargoes; and 11 vessels were stranded.

The PCG said 42 vessels and six motorbancas were taking shelter in Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions due to Paeng.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo advised travelers to postpone their trips considering the threat of Paeng.

“Ayaw nating na malagay kayo sa balag ng alanganin. Hintayin nating gumanda ang panahon bago tayo mag-isip na bumiyahe ulit. Alam kong Undas pero hindi po natin dapat i-kompromiso ang ating safety,” he said.

(We don’t want you to be in danger. Just wait for the weather to improve before deciding on going on trip. I know that it’s All Saints’ Day but we should not compromise our safety.)

Amid the storm, the PCG is also monitoring the expected surge of passengers due to the long Undas weekend.

From 12 midnight to 6 a.m., the PCG deployed 2,334 personnel who inspected 163 vessels and 204 motorbancas.

A total of 15,217 outbound passengers and 15,556 inbound passengers were reported in all ports and waterways across the country, the PCG said.

Based on PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin, Paeng was located at 410 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 km/h, and moving westward at 15 km/h.

Paeng may make landfall or pass very close to Catanduanes on Saturday morning, PAGASA said.

Another landfall may occur on Sunday morning over Aurora or the east coast of Quezon, including Polillo Islands. With the southward shift there is also a possible landfall in the eastern portion of Bicol Region. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News