350 passengers stranded in Batangas Port

     Due to typhoon “Quiel” that caused the strong water current  and undersea tornadoes in the seas of Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro, a total of 350 passengers were stranded in Batangas Port after the port management on Saturday afternoon cancelled the regular trips there and those to Odiongan, Romblon, the Asian Terminals Inc.’s information service said.

     The cancelled Roll-on, Roll-off  (Ro-Ro) trips were resumed by Montenegro Shipping Lines on Sunday at 10 a.m. while the Odiongan Ro-Ro ships were back on its regular schedule at 5 p.m.

     During the typhoon, even the passengers bound for Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro had no choice but to board the Ro-Ro ships going to Calapan City.  From there, they traveled by land going to Puerto Galera.

Fastcrafts going to Puerto Galera were not allowed  by  the port management and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)  to go as only 1,000 tonnage ships like Ro-Ros are permitted to sail on typhoon signal number 1 that hit the province.

Weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised typhoon signal number 1 over the Mindoro island  provinces and  Batangas on Saturday morning, enough for the  Port administrators to refuse to let the  small boats sail. (Mei Magsino)