Maritime operations resumed early Monday between Oriental Mindoro’s major ports and neighboring provinces as Typhoon Pepito moved away from Central Luzon, restoring vital transportation links for thousands of passengers and cargo vessels stranded for days in various sea ports.

The Philippine Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog announced at 11 p.m. Sunday that vessels can now operate on major maritime corridors: the Calapan-Batangas route, which serves as the main gateway between Mindoro Island and Luzon’s mainland, and the Dangay-Caticlan route, a crucial link connecting Mindoro to the Visayas region through Aklan province.

The reopening of these sea lanes follows the lifting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 in the area.

The resumption is particularly crucial for Oriental Mindoro, where maritime transport serves as a lifeline for both commerce and civilian travel.

“All vessels and watercraft operators are reminded to remain vigilant and monitor weather updates despite the resumption of operations,” the Coast Guard advisory said, maintaining its cautionary stance as Pepito continues to affect other parts of the country.

As of 1 a.m. Monday, Pepito was located 105 kilometers west-southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

While maritime operations have normalized in Oriental Mindoro, northern Luzon remains under heightened alert, with TCWS No. 3 still in effect over Ilocos Sur and portions of La Union, Pangasinan, and Abra.

The state weather bureau PAGASA warned of moderate to high storm surge risk in low-lying coastal areas of the Ilocos Region, Isabela, and Central Luzon, with waves up to 5 meters expected in some coastal waters.

The typhoon is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday noon.

Travelers can contact the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog at 0997-785-4915 for additional information about maritime operations.