ILOILO City – Sea travel across Western Visayas ground to a halt on Monday. Coast Guard stations in five provinces simultaneously suspended voyages, citing Tropical Depression “Verbena” that triggered the placing of large parts of the region under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.
Advisories issued from Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Guimaras detailed extensive cancellations across major inter-island routes as the weather system, detected east of Mindanao at dawn, continued to strengthen while moving westward.
In Capiz, authorities ordered the stoppage of all trips from Culasi Port in Roxas City, affecting voyages to Batangas; multiple Masbate towns including Balud, Culumpang, and Mandaon; and several Romblon destinations such as Magdiwang, Sibuyan, San Fernando, and Caticlan.
Residents in coastal barangays were cautioned against venturing out to sea until weather conditions stabilize.
Aklan likewise shut down departures from Caticlan Port bound for Batangas, Mindoro, Bulalacao, and Romblon, along with sailings from Tabon, Alegria, and Dumaguit ports.
Limited movement between Caticlan and Boracay may be allowed only under strict daytime and fair-weather requirements, including manageable sea conditions and clear visibility.
Antique’s Coast Guard station also halted travel from Libertad, Culasi, and San Jose to various destinations in Aklan, Iloilo, Semirara, and Occidental Mindoro, echoing warnings for fisherfolk to stay ashore.
In Iloilo province, all sea routes were suspended until further notice, except for Iloilo-Guimaras trips operating under reduced passenger-capacity limits as required by MARINA safety guidelines.
Guimaras, for its part, temporarily banned voyages from Sebaste Port to Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, and reminded vessel operators that all sailings are restricted to daylight hours and may be canceled immediately if weather conditions deteriorate.
Passenger loads for motorboats remain capped at 50 percent, while larger RoRo vessels may carry only up to 75 percent of their authorized cargo.
Across all stations, officials invoked national protocols that prohibit vessels from sailing whenever a storm signal is raised in the port of origin, the intended route, or the destination.
Coast Guard commanders across the region urged travelers, coastal communities, and fisherfolk to heed the advisories and prioritize safety as Western Visayas braces for the continued effects of Tropical Depression “Verbena.”/PN
