Wilma brings rains, suspends sea travel

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of passengers were stranded in various ports in Central Visayas yesterday after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Storm Signal No. 1 in the area due to Tropical Depression Wilma.

Wilma, however, lost its strength after hitting land in Tandag, Surigao del Sur and was downgraded by PAGASA to a low pressure area (LPA) at 5 p.m.

Cebu and the rest of the Visayas will still experience moderate to light rains as another weather disturbance over the Pacific Ocean is expected to enter the country tomorrow. The storm, PAGASA said, will be given the local name Yolanda once it enters the country’s territory.

Coastguard Central Visayas commander William Melad ordered the suspension of the voyages of 25 vessels, which were either going out or coming to the Cebu port when Storm Warning Signal No. 1 was raised at 11 a.m. yesterday over the southern part of Negros Occidental, southern part of Negros Oriental, southern Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin Island and the northern part of Zamboanga del Norte.

“As a protocol, kapag may bagyo kahit signal number 1 lang bawal ang byahe from the travel origin to their destination,” Melad said, adding that seven vessels from Cebu, with a total number of 640 passengers; 14 vessels from Bohol with 3,471 passengers and four vessels from Negros Oriental with 244 passengers, were affected by the travel suspension.

All sea and air travel went back to their normal operations after the storm warning signal was lifted late yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, PAGASA Mactan chief Engr. Oscar Tabada yesterday forewarned Cebuanos of a looming weather disturbance expected to enter Philippine Area of Responsibility this Friday.

“I called up Manila for an update before this briefing and I learned that Tropical Depression Wilma is now downgraded to an LPA. But we still expect more rains, ranging from moderate to light. Tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday will be sunny but dili lang ta magkompyansa,” Tabada said during yesterday’s command conference as he discussed weather forecast for Cebu before Mayor Michael Rama and key city officials.

The country’s 24th tropical storm, Yolanda, Tabada said, is expected to create storm surges in our coastal areas as it enters the Philippines Friday.

“If weather movement is as expected, alarm for Yolanda must be issued as early as Thursday so that the public can prepare,” the mayor said.

Tabada said that most the weather disturbances in the last quarter of the year normally pass through the Visayas area.

“Normally we have about two to three weather disturbances for the month of November, one to two for December, and another one to two for January,” Tabada added.

In anticipation of Yolanda, the Mandaue City government will also activate its 2,700-member Barangay Disasters Brigade, according to city administrator James Abadia. — with Jessa J. Agua, Flor Z. Perolina