BACOLOD CITY – Close to 1,000 passengers were stranded in this city and various ports in Negros Occidental as sea trips were suspended on Monday, December 18, due to tropical depression “Kabayan.”
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Northern Negros Occidental said 968 travelers were stranded – 186 in San Carlos City, 153 in Escalante City, 43 in Sagay City, and 586 here.
PASSENGERS are stranded after sea trips from the Bacolod Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) Port in Bacolod City were suspended on Monday, December 18, due to tropical depression 'Kabayan.' (Photo courtesy of PCG)
The 618th Squadron of the PCG Auxiliary distributed hot meals to stranded passengers at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) Port in this city.
In an advisory, trips to and from Daanbantayan, Cebu via Cadiz City, Tabuelan, Cebu via Sagay City and Escalante City, Toledo City, Cebu via San Carlos City, Dumangas, Iloilo via Bredco Port and Banago Port here, and Iloilo via Bredco Port were suspended since Sunday, December 17.
Additional trips suspended on Monday were Bay-ang Port Ajuy via Mantaangan Port in E.B. Magalona town and Sibunag Port in Guimaras via Pulupandan Port.
Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio, head of PCG-Northern Negros Occidental, said these trips were suspended after Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted in Cebu and Negros Occidental.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez suspended classes on all levels here starting 11 a.m. on Monday due to inclement weather from Kabayan.