Sea trips remain affected by gale warning
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The heavy rains brought about by the enhanced southwest monsoon has forced local government officials in Negros Occidental to suspend classes. Based on a weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Storm Hanna was last spotted 795 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan and bringing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts up to 115 kph.
PAGASA has also retained a gale warning over the western section of the country, including Western Visayas. The status forced Bacolod City, Talisay City, EB Magalona, and Murcia to suspend classes yesterday afternoon.
Sea travel in the province also remains affected due to the gale warning.
In San Carlos City, both the city government and the local Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station decided to suspend sea trips bound for Sipaway Island due to strong waves and inclement weather.
Roll-on/Roll-off ferries bound for Toledo in Cebu, meanwhile, remain normal.
The San Carlos City government also requested all stranded passengers to proceed to the Barangay 6 hall to receive assistance.
Meanwhile, ferry services between Bacolod City and Iloilo City remains limited with vessels below 250 gross tonnage barred from leaving.
Two OceanJet Fast Ferries and Weesam Express vessels were allowed to set sail, although OceanJet again released a notice to passengers later in the afternoon that trips were cancelled due to poor conditions.
There are currently no stranded passengers in Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ