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Land travel from Luzon to Mindanao through any point in Eastern Visayas is cancelled from December 22 until further notice to prevent the further build-up of passengers and vehicles at the Liloan seaport
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This order excludes trucks and other vehicles transporting relief and other perishable items
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The seaport terminal in Liloan is currently congested due to the lack of shipping services and the increasing number of stranded passengers and vehicles bound for Mindanao
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San Ricardo port is currently not operational due to the damage caused by Typhoon Odette
Land travel from Luzon to Mindanao through any point in Eastern Visayas is cancelled from December 22 until further notice, according to the Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council (RRRMC) Region 8, explaining that this is because Liloan port in Southern Leyte is currently congested.
This order excludes trucks and other vehicles transporting relief and other perishable items, according to a memorandum dated December 22 by RRRMC 8 chairperson Lord Byron Torrecarion.
The RRRMC 8 said the seaport terminal in Liloan is currently congested due to the lack of shipping services and the increasing number of stranded passengers and vehicles bound for Mindanao. Likewise, San Ricardo port is currently not operational due to the damage caused by typhoon Odette.
“This proactive measure aims to prevent further build up of passengers and vehicles at the Liloan seaport, which was also hit by the onslaught of typhoon Odette,” the memorandum stated.
In a separate update on December 23, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said operations at Lipata port in Surigao Del Norte have resumed, although at limited capacity.
PPA said this will help relieve the queuing of passengers on the Lipata-Liloan-Lipata and Lipata-Benit-Lipata routes.
On December 23, FastCat M7 Sta. Clara (chartered) and LCT Star Asia started servicing Lipata port. Montenegro Shipping Lines has also started services from Lipata to Benit in Southern Leyte.
READ: 32 ships transport goods, passengers to Odette-hit areas
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) earlier said it had authorized 32 ships to carry relief goods to, as well as transport passengers in, various areas severely affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, which had hit Visayas, Mindanao, and some parts of Luzon. As of December 22, twelve ships are now serving Surigao and Southern Leyte, and 20 other ships have been authorized to resume operations on various routes.
