Cruise ship skips Subic port amid coronavirus scare

The cruise ship MV World Dream, which arrived from Hong Kong, skipped its scheduled stop at the Port of Subic due to public outcry over the novel coronavirus scare.

Olongapo City residents, led by Mayor Rolen Paulino, protested the docking of the ship, citing safety concerns for Filipinos.

The Olongapo City government formally requested the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to suspend all cruise ship arrivals at the Subic Bay Freeport while the novel coronavirus threat persists.

The MV World Dream arrived in Manila on January 28 and its 778 passengers were authorized to travel by the Bureau of Quarantine.

Despite the local pressure, the ship decided to cancel its Subic arrival and head back to Hong Kong.

Mayor Paulino cited the uncertainty and lack of information on the novel coronavirus, which originated from Wuhan, China.

He also noted that infected persons do not manifest symptoms until much later and that infected persons do not manifest any of its symptoms until much later.