Typhoon spurs more flight cancellations
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and budget听airline听Cebu Pacific canceled more flights on Friday听as听Typhoon听Rai, locally named Odette, battered the central and western parts of the country.听
PAL cancelled several flights for Dec. 17, including those between Manila and Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod,听Dipolog, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga,听Caticlan, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Siargao and Cotabato.听
It also cancelled flights between Cebu and听Siargao, Davao, and Caticlan.听
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific canceled various flights for Dec. 17 between Manila and Cebu, Busuanga, Puerto Princesa,听Dipolog,听Siargao, Surigao and Dumaguete.听
The budget carrier also cancelled flights between Cebu and Tacloban and Davao.听
The Philippine Coast Guard said more than 2,300 passengers, drivers and helpers were stranded at 12 Bicol ports, including听Pioduran,听Bacacay, Legazpi and Virac as of noon on Friday. Sea conditions听in the region were听moderate to rough.听
More than 1,300听people were听stranded at Southern Tagalog ports, including听Calapan, Roxas, Bulalacao, Abra de Ilog, Tilik, and Lucena. The听Coast Guard听said sea conditions听in the area were听light to moderate.听
In Western Visayas,听more 1,180 people were stranded at听12 ports including听Araste, Lapuz and Parola, it said.听More than 1,000听people were听stranded at 13 ports in Eastern Visayas where sea conditions听were听rough. Affected ports included Ormoc, Baybay, Isabel and Bato.听
It said听339听people听were stranded听at听35 ports affected听in In Central Visayas, while 37 sea travelers at 14 ports in听Northeastern Mindanao听were affected.听
The Coast Guard听said 275 vessels and 134听motorboats听took shelter听from听the typhoon.听
Meanwhile, Globe Telecom, Inc. said its data and mobile services were affected in some听areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.听
鈥淥utages were caused by multiple fiber cuts and the lack of commercial power,鈥 Globe said in a statement.听
PLDT, Inc. said it听had听set up free call and charging stations at an evacuation center in Surigao del Sur.听It also听sent听emergency load assistance to affected customers in听Dinagat听Islands, Surigao del Sur and听Surigao听del Norte, Bohol and Southern Leyte.听鈥斕Arjay L. Balinbin听
