ILOILO City — The Coast Guard District Western Visayas (CGDWV) has temporarily suspended sea trips across the region due to Tropical Depression “Wilma,” leaving more than 1,000 passengers stranded, on Friday, December 5.
Affected routes included trips from Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City to Aduana Port in Cebu City and to North Harbor in Manila, as well as from Dumangas Port to Bredco Port in Bacolod City and from Bay-ang Port in Ajuy, Iloilo to Manta-angan Port in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.
All other vessels operating within the areas covered by Coast Guard Station Iloilo, including Carles, Estancia, Balasan, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Ajuy, Banate, Sara, Barotac Viejo, Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, and Iloilo City, were also affected. Additionally, trips from Culasi Port in Roxas City to Batangas Port, Masbate, Sibuyan Port, and Caticlan Port have been suspended.
For Iloilo-Guimaras routes, passenger vessels and motorboats were limited to 50 percent of their authorized passenger capacity as indicated on their Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-issued passenger ship safety certificates.
As of this report, CGDWV recorded 1,008 stranded passengers, including drivers and helpers, 10 vessels and 308 rolling cargoes in the region.
WV raised to ‘red’ alert
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 6 (RDRRMC-6) elevated the alert status of the Regional DRRM Operations Center (RDRRMOC) from “blue” to “red” at 8 a.m. on December 5 due to Tropical Depression “Wilma.”
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as of 4 p.m. on Friday, “Wilma” is expected to make landfall over Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands between the evening of December 5 and early morning of December 6, before traversing the Visayas until Sunday, December 7.
“All concerned agencies, responders, and Local DRRMCs are instructed to closely monitor their areas of responsibility and submit timely updates and situational reports to the RDRRMOC for consolidation,” said the advisory from RDRRMC-6.
Meanwhile, in preparation for the tropical cyclone, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) convened a provincial pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) meeting on December 4 via Zoom. The provincial government, led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., has prepositioned relief goods, medical supplies, and logistical support ahead of the storm.
PAGASA forecasts that Wilma will bring 50 to 100 mm of rainfall over Iloilo from noon December 5 until the afternoon of December 6, potentially causing localized flooding in urbanized, low-lying, and coastal areas. Landslides may also occur in highly susceptible areas.
As of 4 p.m. on Friday, PAGASA issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 for several areas in Western Visayas. In Iloilo, the affected areas included San Dionisio, Estancia, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Ajuy, Sara, Balasan, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, City of Passi, San Enrique, Anilao, Banate, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Mina, Pototan, New Lucena, Santa Barbara, Pavia, Iloilo City, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Dueñas, and Bingawan.
In Capiz, the warning covered Pilar, President Roxas, Panay, Pontevedra, Ma-Ayon, Cuartero, Dumarao, Dao, Panitan, Roxas City, Ivisan, Sigma, Sapi-An, Mambusao, and Dumalag, while the entire province of Guimaras was also placed under TCWS No. 1./PN