Stranded sea travelers resume trip; airlines cancel Manila-Tacloban flights due to 'Nina'

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) -- Thousands of Luzon-bound passengers resumed their trips after the lifting of sea travel ban while major airlines cancelled 10 Tacloban-bound flights as typhoon Nina threatened Metro Manila on Monday.

The Philippine Coast Guard allowed normal operations of seaports in Northern Samar at 10 a.m. on Monday after imposing a travel ban starting Friday night after the state weather bureau raised tropical cyclone warning signals in Northern Samar and Sorsogon provinces.

The weather disturbance has forced 1,838 travelers to spend their Christmas in ports of Allen and San Isidro towns in Northern Samar.

Aside from passengers, the typhoon had also stranded 279 buses, trucks, and light cars as authorities imposed travel ban on five roll-on roll-off vessels docked in Northern Samar ports.

“Personnel from the local police and local government unit were assigned in ports to attend to the needs of stranded passengers who spent Christmas at port terminals,” Edgar Posadas, RDRRMC chairman and Office of the Civil Defense regional director said.

Northern Samar is about 25 kilometers away from the Matnog port in Sorsogon, crossing the San Bernardino Strait that separates Bicol Peninsula and Samar Island.

While sea travel resumed, the Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia -- cancelled on Monday 10 Manila-Tacloban flights as the typhoon affected the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

Also cancelled are Philippine Airline flights bound for Calbayog City in Samar and Catarman in Northern Samar from Metro Manila.

Affected passengers are advised to rebook their tickets within 30 days from the original date of departure without penalty, or refund their ticket in full.(PNA)
JBP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO