The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) canceled trips from Negros Oriental and Siquijor yesterday due to stormy weather brought about by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm “Opong” (international name “Bualoi”).

Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, Coast Guard Station Negros Oriental commander, told the Philippine News Agency that trips from Bulado Port in Guihulngan City to Dumanhug Port in Cebu were suspended at 1:00 a.m.

No passengers were left stranded at the port.

Guihulngan City is among the areas in northern Negros Oriental where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been hoisted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Enopia said Ocean Jet had voluntarily canceled its trips early yesterday morning from the Dumaguete port to Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.

“This is voluntary in the absence of Signal No. 1 in these areas, and I believe the shipping company is initiating precautionary measures,” she said.

The Coast Guard here is also consolidating the number of passengers stranded at the Dumaguete port.

Meanwhile, Siquijor as also canceled all trips coming from that island-province beginning at 7:00 a.m.

Coast Guard Siquijor Station commander Lt. Adrian Rey Madrid said “shipping companies may cancel their trips if they deem it unsafe to travel.”

Enopia also said light seacraft plying the Apo Island route in Dauin and those in Bais City will soon be suspended within the following hours.

Larger vessels like barges of the Maayo Shipping in Amlan and Sibulan are still allowed to travel, she added. (PNA)