The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is anticipating a massive influx of travelers at seaports nationwide as the long holiday break draws to a close. Between 170,000 and 200,000 passengers are expected to board vessels on Sunday, according to PCG spokesperson Commodore Algier Ricafrente.
In an interview on GMA 7’s radioDZBB, Ricafrente highlighted the surge in travel, particularly as students and employees prepare to return to school and work on Monday, January 6.
“Based on our statistics last year, we are looking at around 200,000 passengers or around 170,000 to 200,000 passengers we expect today (Sunday),” Ricafrente said.
The PCG reported on Friday it monitored approximately 192,981 outbound passengers and 187,757 inbound passengers across the country’s ports. To manage the holiday rush, the PCG placed all districts, stations, and sub-stations on heightened alert from December 20, 2024 to January 3, 2025.
Ricafrente assured the public that measures are in place to ensure passenger safety and efficient travel. He emphasized that sea vessels—including Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ships, fast crafts, and motorized bancas—are strictly monitored to prevent overloading.
The PCG official noted that even with the high volume of travelers, trips are moving quickly. Vessels are loaded as soon as passengers queue, and they depart immediately once ready, minimizing waiting times.
The PCG continues to oversee operations at seaports nationwide to ensure safe and efficient travel for all passengers returning from their holiday vacations.
