LIVING HERITAGE A “lantsa” (wooden-hulled ship) waits for cargo and passengers at the port of Sibutu in Tawi-Tawi. The town’s centuries-old shipbuilding industry has produced vessels that helped facilitate maritime trade and commerce between the Sulu archipelago and neighboring areas in Southeast Asia. (File photo by BONG S. SARMIENTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The lack of ships to cater to the surge in passengers traveling for the upcoming three-day holiday may be a problem, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) admitted on Friday.
The holiday period pertains to Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (October 30), All Saints’ Day (November 1), and All Souls’ Day (November 2), which are all holidays.
According to PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, the volume of passengers in different ports across the country is starting to increase as the holiday breaks approach.
“Ang nakikita po nating challenges po diyan, kung saka sakali, ay yung kakulangan pa rin po ng sasakyang pandagat po,” Santiago said in an interview on Radyo 630.
(The challenge we see there, if ever, is the lack of water transport vehicles.)
“Baka po hindi ma-meet yung dagsa po ng ba-byahe doon po sa dami ng mga barkong bumabyahe po,” he aired his concern.
(The number of ships may not meet the surge in passengers that will travel.)
PPA expects around 1.4 million passengers for this peak season.
Santiago advised the public to secure and confirm their booking tickets first, before their travel dates to avoid unnecessary delays.
“Huwag po nilang aasahan na magbaka-sakali na pupunta po sila sa pantalan, saka pa lang sila bibili ng ticket. Baka hindi po sila makakuha ng ticket dahil punuan,” he cautioned travelers.
(They should not rely on buying tickets when they are in the port already. They may not be able to get tickets as the ships are already full.)
Santiago also reminded travelers from Mindoro not to bring pork and frozen pork products since these items are prohibited due to the swine flu.
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