Hundreds stranded in Albay port

MANILA - Some 300 passengers were stranded in Tabaco port, Albay province Thursday morning after the Coast Guard banned sea travel for all passenger vessels below 1,000 gross tonnage.

The Philippine Ports Authority said sea travel to Catanduanes was suspended after weather bureau PAGASA hoisted Storm Signal no. 1 over Catanduanes and the Camarines provinces in the Bicol region.

Aside from the passengers, two buses, seven cargo trucks and some light vehicles were also stranded at the port.

Coast Guard commandant Adm. Wilfredo Tamayo said he has placed all Coast Guard units in affected areas of typhoon Pepeng (international codename Parma) on heightened alert.

He said all sea vessels below 1,000 gross tonnage have been barred from sailing in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte as of Thursday morning.

"If Storm Signal no. 2 is hoisted, no vessel will be permitted to sail. We are warning fishing boats and smaller vessels not to venture out to sea. Maritime travelers going to the affected areas are advised to delay their trips," he said.

Commodore Jose Luis Alano, Naval Forces Northern Luzon commander, said all Philippine Navy units were also placed on red alert and prepositioned in key areas.

He said a disaster relief response team was fielded in Cagayan Province, two teams in La Union, one team in Pangasinan and two teams in Zambales. Each DRRT is manned by an officer and 15 enlisted personnel and are equipped with rubber boats, portable generators, life saving kits, and M35 trucks.

Naval Reservists residing in Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija were also placed on alert status.

In Albay, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Gov. Joey Salceda also conducted a meeting to prepare for the possible effect of the typhoon in the province.

Although the typhoon will not directly hit the province, local officials are already readying plans for possible preemptive evacuation of residents in lahar, flood and landslide-prone areas.