Mimaropa: Tourists traveling around Mimaropa, which includes Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, are urged to prioritize their safety amid continued weather disturbances.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Tourism (DOT) 4-B (Mimaropa) issued an advisory on Saturday, alerting travelers about the southwest monsoon expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts in some parts of Luzon, including Mimaropa. The advisory emphasized the importance of safety as Tropical Storm Crising approaches, urging all stakeholders and tourists to take precautionary measures.

Stranded tourists have been advised to coordinate with local tourism offices or their transportation providers for assistance with rebooking flight and ferry schedules. Tourism enterprises, including accommodations, transport services, and tour operators, have been advised to take necessary precautions against the impacts of the storm and to provide extended assistance to stranded tourists and guests.

Tourists can obtain information through the DOT’s Tourist Assistance Agents by calling 0995-835-5155 or emailing [email protected]. The advisory is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of travelers in the region.

A total of 417 barangays across the country, with 16 in Mimaropa, have been affected by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Crising. As of 6 a.m., over 68,000 families, or 215,000 individuals, from 495 villages in regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula have been affected, based on data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of Civil Defense.

The DOT has not provided details about whether tourists have been stranded in the affected areas at the time of this posting.