2,000 people stranded at pier due to bad weather

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

OVER two thousand people have been stranded at the pier in Macabalan for about a week now because of bad weather.

Lt. Alberto Ferre, Coast Guard chief of staff here, said the passengers were stranded because the Coast Guard prevented vessels from leaving since Monday due to typhoon “Nona,” and then because of tropical depression “Onyok.”

Many of the stranded passengers are bound for Manila, Cebu, and Bohol.

Ferre said the Coast Guard did not want to take chances, and it would only allow the vessels to leave the moment the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) says that the weather conditions have improved.

Meanwhile, Roman Catholic and Iglesia Filipina Independiente leaders called on their followers to “prepare and pray” that “Onyok” would not bring another disaster here.

Msgr. Rey Monsanto, a consultor of the  the Roman Catholic archdiocese, said, “Kinahanglan nga mag-prepare unya mag-ampo kita to keep us safe.”

Monsanto said people should keep themselves updated by the media, and those living in or near danger zones should seek refuge elsewhere.

“Kung kusog gyud kaayo ang ulan unya mamilegro dili lang sa kita mutambong sa Misa de Gallo. They must secure themselves first,” he said.

IFI Bishop Felixberto Calang called on citizens in dangerous places to evacuate.

The problem, according to Calang, is people don’t leave their homes unless they are forced to do so.

“Kung puwede dili na kita maghulat nga ihikling pa,” he said. “Dili kita mag kumpiyansa sa mamahimong epekto. Because of climate change, we cannot predict the weather conditions.”

Calang added: “El Niño man kaha kita unya kalit lang nga dunay bagyo. Dili na gyud nato ma-predict ang weather.”