By AARON RECUENCO, MARTIN SADONGDONG, JEL SANTOS, and ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
Authorities are expecting around three million passengers in various seaports and at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as Filipinos start the annual Holy Week travel to take advantage of the long holiday break for religious activity, vacation, and bonding with friends and relatives.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said they expect 1.73 million passengers in various ports across the country from April 14 to 20 this year, a 3.5 percent increase from the 1.67 passengers recorded last year.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said that in the first three weeks of March alone, passenger numbers have already reached 3,027,881, or an average of 1,009,294 passengers per week.
“For Holy Week, port passenger traffic is expected to peak, nearing pre-pandemic figures, with an estimated 1,729,426 travelers utilized port facilities during the Lenten season,” said Santiago.
Based on the PPA analysis, the top five ports this Lenten season include the Port Management Offices (PMO) of Batangas with around 20,000-25,000 daily average passengers during peak season.
The Port Management Office Mindoro is on the second spot with the highest number of expected passengers, PMO Panay/Guimaras still on the third spot as last year, PMO Negros Oriental/ Siquijor, and the PMO Bohol on the fifth spot with the most number of passengers during peak season.
Santiago said they already initiated measures in anticipation of the influx of passengers starting Monday as part of the “OPLAN Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2025.”
The preparations include the conduct of maintenance checks on critical infrastructure, placing standby generator sets for uninterrupted power supply, water systems, and ventilation to mitigate the effects of El Niño and rising temperatures this Lenten season.
“We are prepared for the increased number of passengers this Holy Week 2025, especially as the Lenten Season coincides with summer, most of our local travelers are really taking advantage of this long days of day-off and for some tourists it is also a great time to explore our islands via sea travel,” said Santiago.
He said they also mobilized additional personnel and enhanced terminal operations across key ports and optimized passenger terminal facilities to ensure the functionality of security and safety equipment.
He said they also deployed port police for crowd control and assistance.
Santiago said help desks have been established in major ports nationwide for immediate information concerns of travelers along with the port police and representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for a seamless travel experience.
“With the adequate manpower, appropriate facilities, and back-up systems placed in ports, we can assure the public that we are ready for the influx but then again, it is the peak season so we appeal to our passengers to book their tickets ahead of time and allot extra hours for travel going to the ports,” said Santiago.
NAIA ready
For its part, the new NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said it is expecting more than 1.18 million passengers from April 13 to 20.
NNIC General Manager Angelito Alvarez said the expected passenger volume is 14.23 percent higher from last year’s 1.04 million.
Alvarez said they also expect flight movements to increase from 6,537 in 2024 to 6,724 this year, with Good Friday, April 18, is expected to be the busiest day, with 851 flights, while Tuesday, April 15, will see the lightest traffic at 818 flights.
He said they already initiated measures in anticipation of higher volume of passengers, including setting up of assistance desks that will be manned by airport personnel, medical teams, and uniformed officers.
Additional traffic aides, according to Alvarez, will be deployed to manage curbside and parking flow, while improved Wi-Fi connectivity ensures passengers can stay connected.
“These measures build on the operational improvements made during NNIC’s first six months at NAIA. These include the deployment of more passenger boarding bridges, upgraded security and baggage systems, expanded transport and parking areas, new air-conditioning units, and more reliable power supply,” said Alvarez.
“CCTV systems now cover the entire baggage handling process, further strengthening safety and transparency,” he added.
Sea ports congestion
A total of 114,365 individuals were recorded by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in various sea ports nationwide on Palm Sunday.
From 6 a.m. to 12 noon, the PCG logged 59,912 outbound passengers and 54,453 inbound passengers, many of them going to their home provinces for the Holy Week break.
The PCG deployed 4,042 frontline personnel in 16 Coast Guard districts nationwide to ensure the safe and convenient travel of commuters.
The frontline personnel inspected a total of 3,396 vessels and 958 motorboats so far. No violation was reported as of writing.
At the Manila North Harbor Port, one of the busiest ports in the country, the situation remains normal, according to the PCG.
A passenger vessel, MV St. Michael the Archangel arrived at the port around 11:30 a.m. carrying 414 passengers from Bacolod and Iloilo.
The ship was scheduled to leave later in the day en route to Davao, General Santos City, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Dipolog, and Zamboanga.
The management of Manila North Harbor Port assured the public that there were sufficient vessels to accommodate the travelling public.
The PCG placed its districts, stations, and sub-stations on heightened alert from April 13 to 20 to manage the influx of port passengers.
Code White Alert
The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all its hospitals and health facilities nationwide under Code White Alert starting April 13 to ensure readiness for any medical emergencies during the Holy Week.
The agency said the alert status will remain in effect until April 20, as millions of Filipinos are expected to travel, join religious activities, or gather with family over the long break.
Under Code White Alert, medical personnel, especially those assigned to emergency rooms and critical care units, are on standby for any possible surge in patients due to accidents, injuries, or heat-related illnesses.
“This proactive measure aims to ensure the readiness of health facilities and personnel to respond to any potential health emergencies during this period of increased public activity,” the DOH said in a statement.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa also reminded the public to be extra cautious, especially as high temperatures continue to pose health risks.
“Maging alerto po tayo sa mga kalsada ngayong karamihan ay magbibiyahe (Let’s stay alert on the roads, especially now that many will be traveling),” he said.
“At dahil din po sa matinding init, mag-iingat din po tayo sa epekto nito sa katawan. Maiiwasan ang heat stroke kung hindi masyado magbababad sa init at kung laging umiinom ng tubig (Because of the extreme heat, we should also be careful about its effects on our bodies. Heat stroke can be avoided by staying out of the sun too long and by drinking water regularly),” he added.
Herbosa warned that food spoils faster in hot weather, so it’s important to prepare and store meals properly to avoid illness.
The health department said it will closely monitor health events and maintain coordination with regional and local health offices for a synchronized response.
“We encourage everyone to observe the Holy Week responsibly. Magpunta po sa mga DOH hospitals na tuloy-tuloy na naka-antabay at magbibigay ng healthcare services sa mangangailangan nito ngayong Semana Santa (Visit DOH hospitals, which are on full alert and ready to provide health services to those who need them this Holy Week),” the health chief said.
The DOH also reminded the public to observe minimum public health standards and to take simple but effective precautions to ensure a safe and meaningful Holy Week.
Warm, humid
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said warm and humid weather conditions will persist throughout the country during the Holy Week, from Monday to Friday, April 14 to 18.
In its weekly weather outlook, PAGASA said the easterlies—or warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean—will be the dominant weather system in the next five days, bringing generally fair weather across the archipelago.
Air temperatures may rise to the mid-30s in Metro Manila and other urban areas, with daytime highs possibly reaching 34 to 36 degrees Celsius.
Heat indices, or the “feels-like” temperature, could be even higher due to increased humidity.
PAGASA continues to advise the public to stay hydrated, wear light and breathable clothing, and avoid direct exposure to sunlight for extended periods to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
However, the public is also advised to prepare for possible localized rain showers or thunderstorms, particularly in the eastern sections of the country where moisture is more likely to accumulate.
While most areas will experience hot and dry conditions, PAGASA said that isolated rain showers or thunderstorms remain possible, especially during the afternoon or evening hours.
These thunderstorms are usually short-lived but may bring sudden heavy rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds.
Residents in low-lying or flood-prone areas are urged to remain cautious, especially during outdoor activities related to Holy Week observances.