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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG: Holiday sea travelers reach 5.9M but gale warning strands passengers in several areas

PCG: Holiday sea travelers reach 5.9M but gale warning strands passengers in several areas

Published Jan 4, 2026 04:38 pm
(Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
(Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
At least 5.9 million passengers traveled by sea nationwide during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, one of the highest volumes monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in recent years.
PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said the passenger traffic is expected to further increase as the agency’s monitoring will run from Dec. 20, 2025 to Jan. 4, 2026. Compared last year, there were six million passengers recorded during the year-end holiday season.
“As we speak, we have already monitored around 5.9 million passengers. Just yesterday, January 3, the PCG monitored around 445,000 inbound and outbound passengers nationwide,” she said in a radio interview over dzBB.
The surge peaked starting December 28 and Cayabyab said the trend is expected to continue as vacationers return to Metro Manila and nearby provinces after the holidays.
“Today, we expect our ports to be crowded as many of our countrymen begin returning from their holiday trips,” Cayabyab said.
From 12 midnight to 6 a.m. on Jan. 4 alone, the PCG monitored 32,813 outbound passengers and 31,474 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide. Moreover, all of the 16 PCG districts have inspected 234 vessels and 141 motorbancas during the same period.
Despite the heavy traffic, sea travel was temporarily suspended in several areas due to a gale warning issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“Definitely, we are expecting even more passengers today since there are no raised storm signals, only a gale warning has been issued in some areas,” Cayabyab said.
The suspension stranded passengers in parts of Quezon Province including Real, Infanta, and Panukulan towns.
Stranded passengers were also reported in Northern Samar as well as Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, and Dolores in Eastern Samar. Sea travel was likewise halted in Batanes; Calayan and Santa Ana in Cagayan; Isabela; Aurora; and the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.
At the Manila North Harbor, vessels with 250 gross tonnage and below were ordered to suspend trips. Cayabyab said passenger demand is expected to intensify once restrictions are lifted.
No complaints
Amid the influx, the PCG said it has not received passenger complaints related to safety or service.
“We have Malasakit Help Desks in all ports so all concerns of our passengers can be raised there. But as of today, we have not received any reports,” Cayabyab noted.
She added that the PCG strictly enforces passenger capacity rules and no vessel is allowed to carry excess passengers.
“Regarding life jackets, our Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, has issued strict directives that no excess passengers are allowed. Only the number of passengers that the ships can accommodate will be allowed on board,” Cayabyab pointed out.
Further, the PCG said all ships are required to have sufficient life jackets before departure to ensure the safety of the passengers.
“The number of life jackets will definitely be sufficient for all passengers boarding the vessels if there are no excess passengers,” Cayabayab said.

Related Tags

PCG holiday Christmas New Year influx ports gale warning
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