Operations in some ports in Luzon and the Visayas are going back to normal following the improvement of weather conditions as typhoon “Pepito” starts to move out of the country’s area of responsibility, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said on Monday, Nov. 18.
PPA spokesperson Eunice Samonte said the hundreds of passengers that were earlier reported to have been stranded in various ports have started to board their respective vessels as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) allowed passenger vessels to sail.
“There are still a few ports with cancelled trips because of the threat from ‘Pepito’,” said Samonte.
The ports which have started to resume their operations are in Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay and Cebu.
“Currently, stranded passengers at the Manila Port have started to board their vessels because of the improving weather condition,” she said.
Several trips were cancelled over the weekend after ‘Pepito’ entered the country’s area of responsibility. Based on the PPA data, more than 1,600 passengers were stranded as a result.
All the stranded passengers, however, were provided with free food, water and other basic necessities.