The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) posted a significant increase in passenger traffic this Holy Week, with over 2 million passengers traveling from 1.87 million passengers during the same period last year.
The state-run port authority said the top five busiest ports from March 22 to April 2 were Port Management Office (PMO) Mindoro (213,036), PMO Batangas (212,515), PMO Panay/Guimaras (205,704), PMO Negros Oriental/Siquijor (183,963) and PMO Bohol (178,726).
Other PMOs that gathered the greatest number of passenger traffic includes PMO Davao, Marinduque-Quezon, Surigao, Bicol and Western Leyte/Biliran.
The huge number of passengers based on the data collected during the said period is a reflection of more individuals utilizing maritime transport services after the pandemic, reaffirming the critical role of the PPA in ensuring efficient and secure port transportation during peak travel season.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago commends the recently concluded over-all peaceful and safe exodus of passengers during the Holy Week period, a testament to the robust planning and execution by the authority a month earlier than the peak season.
Despite the success of the port operations, PPA is not exempted to some challenges encountered during the Holy Week exodus that were swiftly addressed by the agency’s personnel. In particular, issues such as inadequate online booking or advance booking were identified and managed to ensure smooth operations.
Furthermore, the PPA responded promptly to a bomb joke incident at Puerto Galera involving a 23-year-old woman en route to Batangas Port.
PPA personnel went above and beyond their duty to assist the travelers heading to various provinces. In addition to ensuring orderliness at the ports, the PMOs also made preparations for passengers during the recent Holy Week. For instance, PMO Lanao del Norte not only distributed Easter eggs but also PPA Lugaw to passengers waiting for their trip.
Meanwhile, PMO Panay/Guimaras and PMO Negros Occidental offered free coffee and bottled water. The Port Services Division of PMO Agusan distributed free binignit to passengers at Nasiport Port, while PMO Davao gave out Easter egg chocolates and prepared a fun Easter photo booth for passengers.
The success of managing the Holy Week exodus boils down to the agency’s early preparation and deployment of full manpower to handle the influx of travelers. Continuous coordination with other relevant agencies and stakeholders also played a crucial role in ensuring the overall passenger experience in the future.