By Lesley Caminade Vestil
CEBU CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas (PCG-7) cancelled trips of some sea vessels in Region 7 effective 11:30 a.m. Monday due to tropical depression (TD) “Samuel.”
The tropical depression is expected to further intensify into a storm before its projected landfall over Eastern Visayas or Caraga region at around Tuesday evening.
Cancelled trips by the PCG-7 were those travelling from Bohol to Cebu and vice versa, from Cebu to Camiguin Province, as well as those in Leyte, and Southern Samar.
Lt. Michael John Encina, operations officer of PCG-7, said the Coast Guard has already deployed around 16 rescue boats from different sub-stations in the entire Cebu Province.
He added that rescue teams were also deployed to Bantayan Island, Hagnaya, Danao City, and in the southern part of Cebu.
All ports are now on heightened alert, he added.