As Filipinos begin to travel home for Christmas, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported an uptick of passengers in all ports nationwide, with nearly 125,000 travelers passing through the country’s ports on Saturday, Dec. 21.
The PCG monitored 65,262 outbound passengers and 59,670 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide from 6 a.m. to 12 noon.
Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, commandant of PCG, accompanied Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Jaime Bautista in inspecting key transportation hubs including Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 and North Harbor to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.
A total of 2,903 frontline personnel were deployed by the PCG in 16 coast guard districts to assist travelers. During the six-hour period, the PCG inspected 666 vessels and 687 motorboats.
The PCG has placed its districts, stations, and sub-stations on heightened alert from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3, 2025 to manage the influx of port passengers.
Meanwhile, as part of “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Pasko 2024”, the DOTR’s Maritime Sector reminded sea passengers of their rights in cases of cancelled, delayed, or uncompleted voyages as indicated in the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Circular 2018-07.
Under the campaign, the DOTr Maritime Sector emphasized that sea passengers of a cancelled or delayed voyage have the right to information and the right to refund or revalidate their tickets.
“If sea passengers choose to revalidate their tickets, they may also avail of the right to amenities, such as snacks or meals and free accommodation, if deemed necessary, while waiting for their rescheduled trip,” it said.
The DOTr Maritime Sector also clarified that the right to compensation of sea passengers for a cancelled or delayed voyage applies only if the free accommodation is not practicable for the shipping operator.
“Meanwhile, sea passengers of an uncompleted voyage have the right to information, right to amenities, right to compensation, as well as the right to be transported to their destination,” it stressed.