PCG Reports Heavy Port Traffic During Good Friday

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recorded a significant surge in passenger volume at ports nationwide during the Holy Week period, with hundreds of thousands of Filipinos traveling to provinces for family gatherings and religious observance.

Saturday Port Activity Numbers

On Saturday alone, the PCG monitored a total of 147,035 outbound passengers and 146,691 inbound passengers in all ports across the country. This combined figure of nearly 300,000 passengers reflects the massive movement of people during the long holiday weekend.

Port authorities deployed additional personnel to manage the heavy foot traffic, ensuring orderly boarding and disembarkation processes for travelers.

Total Holy Week Passenger Count

According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Armie Cayabyab, the agency has so far recorded approximately 390,000 total inbound and outbound passengers in ports nationwide since the start of the Holy Week travel rush. This figure encompasses the entire monitoring period leading up to and including Good Friday.

Based on detailed PCG data, 183,517 passengers were recorded traveling outbound, while 191,350 passengers were inbound during the monitored period.

Early Morning Operations

Despite the early hour restrictions imposed at some terminals, many commuters opted to travel during the wee hours to avoid the peak afternoon congestion at major ports.

Pre-dawn Travel Numbers

From midnight to 6 a.m., the PCG recorded 11,418 outbound passengers and 11,677 inbound passengers at ports nationwide. The combined early morning traffic reached 23,095 passengers, indicating that a substantial number of travelers preferred overnight or early morning trips to beat the crowd.

Shipping lines accommodated these passengers by scheduling additional trips during unconventional hours to meet the high demand.

Safety Measures and Monitoring

The coast guard implemented strict safety protocols to ensure secure travel for all passengers during the busy holiday period.

Coast Guard Protocols

PCG teams conducted thorough safety inspections of vessels and coordinated with local government units to manage crowd control at major port terminals. All passenger vessels underwent mandatory checks before departure to verify compliance with safety standards.

Authorities also reminded travelers to keep their belongings secure and report any untoward incidents to the nearest PCG station. Maritime officials remain on 24-hour alert to respond to emergencies and provide assistance to stranded passengers.

The massive passenger turnout underscores the importance of Holy Week as a cultural and religious tradition for many Filipino families, with millions choosing to travel despite the expected terminal congestion.