Thousands were stranded in airports, seaports, and bus terminals across the country as Tropical Storm Paeng bore down on Luzon on Friday night.
At least 2,000 passengers, nearly 200 vessels, and scores of rolling cargoes were stranded in various seaports in Bicol Region, where the storm was heading after brushing past Samar Island.
Thousands more were waiting for transportation to be cleared as the state weather bureau raised Storm Signal No. 2 over several areas in Luzon and Visayas when Paeng intensified.
This was as an aviation official said travelers passing through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in preparation for the All Saints Day weekend or “Undas” could exceed pre-pandemic levels.
Travel could pick up again as soon as the weather clears, NAIA Terminal 3 OIC Lauro Francisco told reporters.
On Friday, several passengers said they were informed of flight cancellations at the boarding gate.
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, the nexus of buses going south of Metro Manila, also announced the cancellation and suspension of trips due to the tropical storm, stranding many passengers.
A similar situation played out at the EDSA-Cubao bus terminal, which serves northbound passengers.
At least 16 domestic flights were canceled due to bad weather, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Friday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines suspended work in its offices in Marinduque, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Tacloban due to the bad weather.
“The CAAP suspended administrative office work in accordance with the executive order issued by their respective local government units due to the tropical storm. However, airport personnel on operations duty remain in their respective posts,” said CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio.
Masbate Airport halted two Cebu Pacific (CEB) flight operations to and from Manila on Friday, affecting a total of 305 passengers.
Two other CEB flights in Naga were also canceled due to bad weather. A total of 140 passengers were affected.
In Dipolog airport, CEB flight 5J 704 bound for Manila was also suspended, affecting 119 passengers.
Philippine Airlines flight PR 2905 (Manila-Antique-Manila) and CEB flight 5J 373 (Manila-Roxas-Manila) were also canceled on Friday.
Apolonio said airports located within the path of Paeng, including Bicol International Airport (BIA), have already conducted pre-typhoon coordination meetings and assessments to gear up for the expected weather disturbance.
He added all other Area 5 airports—Legazpi, Bulan, Sorsogon, Daet, and Virac—were on normal operations with no reported flight cancellations as of press time.
Area 6 airports—Iloilo, Bacolod-Silay, Kalibo, Antique, and Roxas—also remain operational.
The Cotabato Airport management suspended runway operations as the surrounding areas of the airport were flooded.
Three flights were canceled at the DZR Airport in Tacloban City, while 1,482 people were stranded at various seaports.
At least 10 ships were stranded across the region, with three in Northern Samar, five in Southern Leyte, and two in Leyte.
The total number of vehicles stranded reached 232, with 196 in Allen, Northern Samar, two in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, and 34 in Liloan, Southern Leyte.
Roads in Barangay Binaloan, Taft, Eastern Samar along the national road Wright-Taft-Borongan Road were temporarily closed on Friday morning due to the possibility of landslides.
Motorists going in and out of the Eastern Samar province were advised to use the alternate route at the junction Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut road.
The national disaster agency also reported that 37 road sections and three bridges were affected in Bicol and Western Visayas.
At least 26,000 people are expected to transit via the NAIA Terminal 3 on Oct. 29 as Filipinos rush to go back to their hometowns in time for All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day, NAIA official Francisco told reporters.
Some 25,000 travelers meanwhile are projected to use the airport on Friday mostly on their way to domestic destinations, he added.
“There are more travelers now compared to pre-pandemic levels,” Francisco said.
Travelers must be on time for their flights and check for flight cancellations with a storm approaching over the weekend, Francisco said.
In case of flight cancellations, authorities are prepared to extend aid, he said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed over 1,800 traffic, clearing, and emergency personnel in cemeteries and transport terminals throughout the National Capital Region (NCR).
MMDA Spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said 1,500 MMDA enforcers have already been dispatched to bus terminals and cemeteries to manage traffic as well as 300 personnel from the Metro Parkway Clearing Group.
“In addition, there are rescue personnel on standby in case of any emergencies,” Carunungan said.
From Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, she said number coding will be suspended but warned of possible traffic jams, especially around cemeteries.
“The MMDA will be there to help in the traffic management in those areas,” she said.
MMDA personnel have also cleared roadways from provincial bus terminals to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to help ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
The MMDA also reminded the public to refrain from smoking in public cemeteries and memorial parks.
Acting Chairman Carlo Dimayuga III said all local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region have their respective comprehensive smoke-free ordinances.
Violators may face a fine ranging from P500 to P5,000.
Dimayuga also advised those who will visit the graves of their dearly departed loved ones to take extra precautions and observe COVID-19 minimum health protocols.
On Thursday, the Department of Transportation said the country’s airports, land terminals, seaports and train systems are ready for the expected influx of passengers during All Saints’ Day or “Undas.”
Jonathan Gesmundo, the executive assistant to the DOTr Secretary, expressed confidence that the exodus of passengers to the provinces will be smooth, with DOTr help desks to be activated during this period.
“We have prepared airports, bus terminals, seaports, train stations—they now have a full complement of personnel—and we’re expecting to be able to provide assistance,” Gesmundo said in a Laging Handa briefing.