Boats take shelter in Bislig ahead of TD Querubin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 18 Dec) – Small boats and bancas took shelter in the ports of Bislig City on Wednesday ahead of Tropical Depression Querubin after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over Surigao del Sur province

PAGASA said that the center of the tropical depression was spotted some 195 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Surigao del Sur Coast Guard station commander Ensign Junmar Fernandez said PAGASA issued a warning to all boat owners, fishermen and mariners to expect waves with 1.5 meters to 3.7 meters in height along the coast of the province.

Fernandez said they have suspended voyages of all boats of 50 gross tons and below from venturing out to sea.

Seaman 2nd Class Jaypee Binablo of the Coast Guard operations section in Surigao del Sur said small boats and bancas started arriving in the ports of Bislig City starting Tuesday afternoon.

“There are now 37 boats docked in Pier 2, Bislig City. They will stay there until the weather will improve,” Binablo said.

Coast Guard stations in the tourist island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte have started patrolling the beaches and warning tourists of the incoming inclement weather, according to Seaman Harvey Bundal.

The municipalities of San Francisco and Placer, both of Surigao del Norte, have suspended classes expecting heavy rains from TD Querubin.

Surigao del Norte Governor Lyndon Barbers, chair of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, is encouraging local town executives to suspend classes early ahead of TD Querubin. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)