Moderate Rains Today - PAGASA: ‘Kabayan’ weakens

CEBU, Philippines — While tropical depression ‘Kabayan’ has weakened and has been downgraded to a low pressure area (LPA), moderate rains and stronger than usual winds may still be expected today, Dec 19, 2023, over Cebu and the neighboring provinces.

This was based on the 12-hour forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), released at 6 p.m. yesterday.

In the forecast, PAGASA included the rivers of Mananga, Kotkot, Guinabasan, Balamban and Subangdaku as watercourses that might still be affected by the weather disturbance.

In Bohol, the rivers of Inabanga, Ipil, Matulid, Loboc, and Abatan was included in the list; as well as the rivers in La Libertad, Tanjay, Candugay, Siaton, Cawitan, Sipocong, Bayawan, Pagatban, and Lower Tabanan in Negros Oriental. All the rivers in Siquijor are in the list of still likely to be affected by the LPA.

Yesterday, close to 1,300 passengers were stranded in ports and over 200 trips of passenger and cargo vessels were suspended due to strong winds and rain.

Classes in all levels were also suspended in Cebu and in other areas affected by the tropical depression.

According to Cebu Coast Guard Central Visayas spokesperson, Commander Mark Larsen Mariano, around 1,295 passengers were stranded in different ports all over Central Visayas.

He added that 200 rolling cargoes and 34 passenger vehicles were not allowed to sail, while 53 ships took shelter in other ports.

Marian said they started suspending travels by sea Sunday due to the weather disturbance.

As of Monday afternoon, the PCG in Central Visayas recorded 1,295 passengers stranded as they canceled trips of 34 passenger vessels and 200 rolling cargoes.

“Some 53 vessels take shelter in different areas,” Mariano said.

He said they recorded 31 trips were canceled on Sunday, mostly bound for Leyte, Camotes Islands, Samar, Olango Island, Hilongos in Leyte province, Cagayan de Oro, Ormoc in Leyte, Talibon, Tubigon and Calbayog.

On Monday, another 12 trips bound for Surigao, Ormoc, Bohol, San Carlos City, Poro in Camotes Island and Isabela were also canceled.

The PCG in Central Visayas and its stations and substations activated their Deployable Response Group (DRG) on standby to rapidly respond to any eventualities brought by the inclement weather.

The city government here evacuated on Monday over 300 stranded passengers to the Cebu City Sports Center, providing them with food and temporary shelter while waiting for the resumption of trips to different provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport canceled six flights bound for Siargao Island, Surigao province and Ozamis as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, reported that Kabayan had made landfall over the town of Manay in Davao Oriental.

As of 5:40 pm though, the Cebu Port Authority has announced that some trips have been allowed to resume operations, including those heading to Ormoc, Hilongos, Ozamis, Cagayan, Dipolog and Surigao.

But with moderate to occasionally heavy rains still expected today, the Coast Guard has advised fishermen and other small boats to refrain from sailing until the weather clears out.

Further, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 will continue to monitor the weather situation to help ensure the safety of the people.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-7, they have Search and Rescue (SAR) Teams on standby at the police stations.

PRO-7 ordered the chiefs of police and station commanders to activate their SAR teams to also assist in information dissemination, particularly in critical areas prone to landslide and flooding.

Meanwhile, at a press briefing prior the downgrade of the Tropical depression to a low pressure area, PAGASA Weather Specialist Veronica Torres said Kabayan was forecast to make another landfall over central or southern Palawan this morning or afternoon, then emerge over the West Philippine Sea shortly thereafter.

According to Torres, Kabayan may pass near or over Kalayaan Islands between Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. — Philippine Star News Service and Philippine News Agency/ATO (FREEMAN)