'Pablo' cancels domestic flights, ferry trips

MANILA, Philippines – At least 10 domestic flights were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions brought about by tropical storm “Pablo” (international code name Higos) that battered Luzon and the Visayas yesterday.

Airport officials said 21 other domestic flights were cancelled due to bad weather but international flights departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3 were unaffected by the storm.

On the other hand, more than 3,000 passengers were stranded in various ports in Bicol, Samar, Leyte and Cebu even as Pablo weakened to a tropical depression, disaster officials said.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy administrator and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) spokesman Anthony Golez said that as of 8 a.m. yesterday, there were 1,898 passengers stranded in the ports of Pasacao, Camarines Sur; Tabaco City, Albay; Virac, Catanduanes and the towns of Pilar, Bulan, Matnog and Bapor in Sorsogon.

There were also 131 stranded passengers in Cebu and Tagbilaran; 619 in Maasin and Ormoc Ports in Leyte and Catbalogan, Samar; 218 in the Looc Terminal in Allen, Northern Samar and 655 at the Dapdap Ferry Terminal, also in Allen town.

“The needs of the stranded passengers are being taken care of by the respective local government units,” he said.

Golez explained all seagoing vessels are not allowed to sail at the first sign of a storm to prevent accidents, most significant of which was the MV Princess of the Stars that sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon when it was caught during a strong typhoon three months ago.

The Philippine Coast Guard also reported a total of 1,224 passengers stranded in four provinces in the Visayas region during the storm.

Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said 485 people were stranded in Catbalogan, Samar; 374 people in Cebu, 278 people in Maasin, Southern Leyte and 87 passengers in Ormoc, Leyte.

A total of 47 vessels in Cebu, Maasin, Tacloban, Catbalogan, Ormoc, and Tagbilaran were prevented from sailing.

The sea vessels were loaded with 111 trucks, 19 light vehicles and 16 passenger buses.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, NDCC chairman, directed the OCD to coordinate with the concerned government agencies as Pablo makes its way out of the country.

Golez added the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been alerted against flooding that may hit some parts of Metro Manila as the storm exits.

The military’s National Capital Region Command has also been ordered to help ferry stranded passengers.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was also ordered to make available its heavy equipment to clear roadblocks to ensure the normal flow of traffic.

Golez added the Department of Health (DOH) has also alerted monitoring teams to assist in evacuation operations.

He said the local government agencies, in coordination with the Department of Education, have been authorized to declare the suspension of classes, if necessary.

State weather forecasters said Pablo weakened into a tropical depression after hitting the mountainous areas of Camarines Sur yesterday.

State weather forecaster Ludy Alviar of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Pablo made landfall over Pili town in Camarines Sur, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds over the province.

From Pili, a weaker Pablo moved to Infanta, Quezon where it was also expected to make landfall last night.

Although it hovers over the waters of Infanta, Alviar said Pablo is unlikely to maintain strength before hitting land.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, Pablo was located some 40 kilometers southeast of Infanta or 100 kms east of Metro Manila, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center.

Pablo is forecast to move northwest at 17 kph.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm signal no. 1 remained hoisted over Camarines Norte, Quezon province including Polillo Island, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Metro Manila.

Alviar said the highest amount of rainfall was observed in Infanta, recording 196 millimeters of rains in six hours.

Alviar said Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon would continue to experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers until today.

Luzon and Visayas would have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

Pablo is expected to be at 230 kms west northwest of Dagupan City or 240 kms northwest of Iba, Zambales this afternoon.

By tomorrow afternoon, it would be 630 kms west of Laoag City or 380 kms southeast of Hong Kong, China.

“If it maintains its speed and direction, Pablo is expected to leave the country Thursday night,” Alviar said.

Alviar said the weather is expected to improve by tomorrow. – Rudy Santos, James Mananghaya, Evelyn Macairan and Helen Flores