A total of 4,631 individuals were stranded across 55 ports nationwide on Friday, Dec. 5, as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ordered the suspension of sea travel in areas affected by Tropical Depression Wilma.

PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab said the directive came from Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, who placed all units on heightened alert as rough sea conditions persisted.

“We are on a heightened alert status. As we speak, we are monitoring these ports with affected vessels, motorbancas, and stranded passengers. These are the areas where storm signals have been raised,” she said.

Although Wilma remained a small weather system, far-reaching travel suspensions were imposed due to the PCG’s safety protocol.

“Usually, our policy when issuing sailing suspensions covers the point of origin, the route, and the destination of vessels. That’s why the number we recorded is quite large even though the storm’s coverage is relatively small,” Cayabyab explained.

The latest advisory showed 1,484 rolling cargoes, 45 vessels, and 26 motorbancas were also stranded across different ports in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Southern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Northeastern Mindanao.

Another 107 vessels and 53 motorbancas were also taking shelter in ports.

Bicol logged the highest disruption with 2,150 passengers and 647 rolling cargoes stuck in ports, including 1,335 passengers in Matnog alone.

Eastern and Central Visayas also reported more than 1,500 combined stranded travelers.

Meanwhile, data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that at least 261 families or 976 individuals were preemptively evacuated in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) due to the impact of Wilma.

Aside from ensuring maritime safety, Cayabyab said PCG units had already coordinated with local governments and national agencies before Wilma entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) for disaster response.

“We already coordinated with the local government units, the NDRRMC and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) before Tropical Depression Wilma entered PAR. Preemptive evacuations were also conducted, particularly in Surigao del Norte because water levels had risen,” she noted.

In Palawan, nearly 8,000 family food packs were loaded onto Coast Guard vessels for delivery to Coron and Cuyo as part of early relief operations.

The PCG also intensified advisories in coastal areas where they urged residents and fishermen to avoid travel while conditions remain unsafe.

“The information campaign is ongoing. We’re reminding residents in coastal areas to avoid traveling by sea, especially when the weather is bad. For our fishermen, always check the weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, bring life-saving equipment, and always keep the PCG’s contact number in case an emergency occurs,” Cayabyab said.