MANILA - Thousands of passengers are stranded in ports across the country due to inclement weather brought by tropical depression "Crising."

In a tabulation by the Philippine Coast Guard, 4,525 passengers are stranded in ports in the Bicol region and Visayas as of 12 noon Saturday.

This is as hundreds of rolling cargoes, vessels, and motor bancas were not allowed to sail.

Commander Armand Balilo, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard, said bulk of the stranded passengers are in Matnog port.

No vessel has sailed since the regulation was implemented at 7 p.m. on Friday.

"It will continue because per regulation of the Philippine Coast Guard, if a public storm warning signal is raised over that area, we will continue to implement a no-sailing policy," he said on ANC's "Dateline Philippines."

Balilo said they will lift the no-sail order once state weather bureau PAGASA lifts the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal.

However, he said PCG will give discretion to the station commander "if the current situation would still not be safe for travelers."

Balilo expects the number of stranded passengers to increase with more people trooping to the ports to travel via sea as the Holy Week holiday wraps up.

"Crising" is expected to make landfall over Samar by Saturday afternoon.

Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for the latest weather updates.