300,000 passengers to flood ports nationwide Friday — PPA spox
Port of Calapan | PHOTO: official facebook page the Philippine Ports Authority
MANILA, Philippines — A surge of passengers in different ports nationwide is anticipated this Friday, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said, expecting the number of travelers to soar up to 300,000.
PPA Spokesperson Eunice Samonte said the timeline for the influx of passengers is from Dec. 16 to Jan. 5 next year, as people move back and forth in their hometowns and workplaces for the holiday season.
“Inaasahan natin na ngayong araw po, ngayong Friday, ang isa sa pinakamarami nating pasahero na bubugso po ngayon sa pantalan natin. We’re talking about 300,000 passengers all over the ports,” Samonte said in an interview with Radyo 630.
(We expect that today, this Friday, we will see one of the highest numbers of passengers surging in our ports. We’re talking about 300,000 passengers all over the ports.)
“Today po yung peak, December 22, ng ating mga pasahero,” she added.
(Today is the peak, December 22, of our passengers.)
The PPA advised passengers to secure their tickets before entering the ports. According to Samonte, most are already fully booked, and chance passengers only have a slim possibility of boarding a ship.
“Kung mayroon man pong pagkakataon na sila ay makasakay nang walang pa pong ticket at dito lang sila bibili ng ticket sa pantalan ay hindi po natin yan maa-assure dahil sa dami po ng tao,” Samonte said.
(If there is an opportunity for them to board without a ticket and they are just going to purchase it here at the port, we cannot assure that due to the large number of people.)
Safety protocols
Meanwhile, regarding protocols, the spokesperson said that although not required, passengers are highly encouraged to wear facemasks for their safety as there are many people in the ports.
As for the prohibited items, Samonte said that as mandated by the Bureau of Animal Industry, animals without permits and vaccination records are not allowed to board. Their cages must be provided by their owners too.
Pointed objects and flammable materials are likewise prohibited, Samonte added.
She noted that they have also confiscated some pork and meat products, particularly in Batangas port, as these are not allowed in Mindoro due to the African swine fever.
“Pinapa-alalahanan po natin ang ating mga pasahero natin na kung maaari po ay i-check muna nila kung ano po yung bawal doon sa pupuntahan nilang local government, para po hindi na rin maabala at sayang po yung pinagdadala kasi nila dahil hindi rin po natin papayagan yan,” Samonte said.
(We would like to remind our passengers that, if possible, check first the regulations set by the local government of their destination, to avoid inconvenience and wasting the items they bring, as we will not allow those that are prohibited.)
According to Samonte, there is currently no travel suspension due to inclement weather, but there are some passengers whose travel schedules were moved by their shipping lines.
The ports nationwide are open 24/7. Samonte further noted that Police and K9 units are deployed, and the PPA has been on a red alert status ever since the Marawi bombing.
