Ships, fishing boats take refuge in Sual Bay
SUAL—As tropical storm “Juaning” was raging in the southern part of Luzon, several sea vessels took refuge at the Sual Bay here and instantly created a fiesta atmosphere in this sleepy town.
A foreign vessel, two domestic cargo vessels and four tug boats were among the sea crafts that dropped anchors at the bay as the storm was blowing towards the north.
The Philippine Coast Guard prevented these vessels, as well as some local fishing boats, from leaving Sual Bay until after the storm was already out of the country to avoid a possible accident.
Sual Bay, located in the western part of the Lingayen Gulf, is within a cove which serves as natural shelter for ships and boats.
GIRLS AND VENDORS
Meanwhile, Coast Guard Chief Petty Office Conrado Cabrera, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Coast Guard Detachment in Sual, said they had to stop several local persons from boarding the stranded ships.
Some women who wanted to get on board included the so-called “akyat barko girls” who used to entertain crewmembers of ships that docked here.
“I warned the ladies to go away or else I will arrest them,” Cabrera said.
Others who wanted to get on the ships were vendors of food and other goods.
The foreign vessel, according to Cabrera, came from Indonesia to bring coal to the Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant operated by the Japanese-owned Team Energy.
The two domestic cargo vessels were loaded with sand and gravel and were enroute to Batanes.
The fishing boats were headed to the port in Dagupan but were advised to proceed to the Sual Anchorage.
Cabrera added that those that had already sailed out before Tuesday immediately returned after he radioed them that typhoon “Juaning” was already headed in their direction.
Fishermen using bancas smaller than three tons from the town of Infanta found fishing near Scarborough Shoal were also advised to return to shore.
DAGUPAN
Meanwhile, in Dagupan, residents heaved a sigh of relief as “Juaning” changed direction Wednesday and spared the city.
“Thank God,” said City Administrator Vladimir Mata during the KBP Forum Thursday, echoing the sentiments of city residents who braced themselves for another possible flooding.
Last month, the city suffered from severe flooding following heavy rains brought by storm “Falcon”.
Augmentation personnel composed of the Philippine Navy, police and Coast Guard were dispatched to Dagupan as “Juaning” approached, expecting the worst judging from the damages the storm caused in the Bicol region.
In Lingayen, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported that a total of 319 families from five barangays of Umingan town in eastern Pangasinan were evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to threats of flash floods.
PDRRMC Spokesperson Avenix Arenas said the affected families already returned to their homes early Thursday morning.
Prior to the entry of “Juaning” into the province, Governor Amado Espino Jr. convened the PDRRMC in an emergency meeting to remind all concerned agencies about their respective assignments in case of a disaster.
Damage around the province was minimal but the council, as of press time, was continuing to collate reports on possible damages. (with report from PIA Pangasinan/DOS)
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