NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA)—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station here issued a sea travel advisory Wednesday, Oct. 26,  prohibiting all watercrafts with 250 gross tonnages and below from sailing as the weather bureau raised gale warning in the northern coast of Camarines Sur.

The "no sailing policy" was issued in reference to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's (Pagasa) Gale Warning No. 8 as weather experts expected strong to gale-force winds with the northeast monsoon affecting the northern coast of the province.

PCG Camarines Sur Commander Brummel B. Magalong reiterated strict compliance to PCG Memorandum Circular 02-13 dated June 2013 otherwise known as the “Guidelines on Movement of vessels during heavy weather.”

Relative to this, PDRRMC Camarines Sur also advised all fisherfolks utilizing small bancas, and fishing vessels to avoid sailing and prohibits them from venturing out into the open sea and other bodies of water while the no sailing policy is hoisted.

Residents and non-residents near these bodies of water or living along the coastlines are directed not to engage in activities like swimming, island hopping, and the like that may endanger their safety. 

The LDRRMCs are likewise advised to have close coordination with the Coast Guard Station in Camarines Sur in lifting the no sailing policy and water-related activities should the weather improve or the advisories are no longer in effect.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Bicol Regional Office also issued a similar advisory, temporarily suspending all land travels bound for the islands of Masbate, Catanduanes, Visayas, and Mindanao. This is to avoid congestion of vehicles along the Maharlika Highway, particularly roads leading to various ports in Camarines Sur and neighboring provinces.

The ports of Matnog, Pilar in Sorsogon, Tabaco City, and Pio Duran in Albay are often crammed with stranded vehicles during an impending weather disturbance. Most of these vehicles are trucks, buses, and delivery vans which stay for days on the road while waiting for the No Sailing policy to be lifted.

The temporary land travel suspension took effect on Wednesday noon and will last until further advice lifting the said notice is declared.

LTO Bicol Regional Director Francisco P. Ranches Jr., issued Memorandum Circular No. 2022-008 relative to the letter request from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol as a precautionary measure due to the impending threat of TD Paeng. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)