Around 100,000 passengers were monitored in various seaports nationwide on Holy Monday, April 3, as travelers started going back to their home provinces or visited tourist destinations for the Holy Week break, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
The PCG said that it listed 52,334 outbound passengers and 47,680 inbound passengers in all ports around the country as of 12 noon.
To ensure the safety and convenience of travelers, PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu personally visited the Manila North Harbor Port in Tondo, Manila.
He accompanied Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Maritime Julius Yano in inspecting the harbor.
“The DOTr ordered the terminal managers to ensure order in port passenger terminals at all times. This is to keep the passengers’ trips and maritime transport operations safe and secure,” the PCG said.
Meanwhile, a total of 648 vessels and 449 motorbancas were inspected by 2,644 PCG frontline personnel who were deployed in 15 PCG districts nationwide.
The PCG placed its districts, stations, and sub-stations on a heightened alert from April 2 to 10 to manage the influx of port passengers during the Holy Week and as part of the DOTr’s “OPLAN Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2023.”
The alert also covers the length of summer vacation in anticipation of local tourists traveling by sea for recreational purposes until May 31.
The PCG encouraged the riding public to coordinate with the PCG through its official Facebook page, Philippine Coast Guard, or through the Coast Guard Public Affairs (0927-560-7729) for inquiries, concerns and clarifications regarding sea travel protocols and regulations during the Holy Week and summer vacation.