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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG records 390K passengers as Holy Week surge hits port hubs

PCG records 390K passengers as Holy Week surge hits port hubs

Published Mar 29, 2026 09:38 am  |  Updated Mar 29, 2026 01:39 pm
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel inspect the Port of Lucena in Quezon Province on MArch 26, 2026 in preparation for the influx of passengers this Holy Week. (Photo: Coast Guard Station Southern Quezon)
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel inspect the Port of Lucena in Quezon Province on MArch 26, 2026 in preparation for the influx of passengers this Holy Week. (Photo: Coast Guard Station Southern Quezon)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday, March 29, that it has recorded about 390,000 passengers moving through various seaports nationwide as travel for the Holy Week began to pick up, with key hubs already seeing heavy foot traffic.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the highest concentration of passengers was observed in the ports of Batangas, Cebu, Bohol, and Oriental Mindoro.
“Last year, we monitored nearly three million passengers throughout the Lenten Season. This year, the PCG expects the surge of passengers at ports to happen by Tuesday afternoon (March 31) because many of our fellow citizens will still report for work on Monday and Tuesday,” Cayabyab said.
She said all 16 PCG districts were placed on heightened alert from March 28 to April 5 as part of “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2026,” the government’s annual effort to secure major transport hubs during peak travel periods.
Despite concerns over rising fuel costs and global tensions, the PCG said travel demand remains steady.
“We see that it is not significantly affected. This weekend, many people are still flocking to coastal beaches,” Cayabyab said.
“This is where we see a significant increase in travelers, and since this is an anticipated vacation for many, the PCG sees that the numbers are still hovering close to the nearly three million we monitored last year,” she added.
Authorities have tightened safety protocols as passenger volume grows. The PCG said inspections now focus on vessel documents and passenger limits, in coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
“We have intensified the conduct of inspections, and we have coordinated with the PPA and MARINA, particularly in inspecting all vessels. We will not allow any ship or motorboat to sail if it only presents a receipt to inspectors,” Cayabyab shared.
Overloading of vessels will also not be tolerated to prevent a repeat of the tragic sinking of the ferry MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off Basilan on January 26.
“We will ensure that no ship or motorboat will be allowed to depart if it is carrying passengers beyond its capacity,” Cayabyab noted.
The PCG advised travelers to coordinate through its official channels for updated sea travel protocols as the Holy Week rush builds in the coming days.

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