State-run, Philippine Ports Authority expects a 10 percent surge in passenger traffic this coming Holy Week.
From March 24 to 31, sea passenger volume is forecasted to reach 2.08 million from 1.9 million from April 2 to 9, 2023 according to PPA.
Based on data in 2023, Port Management Office (PMO Panay/Guimaras — Iloilo, Batangas, Panay/Guimaras — Jordan, Mindoro, and Panay Guimaras-Dumangas became the busiest ports.
With this, PPA had implemented heightened security at the docks and deployed Help Desks to assist passengers boarding and disembarking from ships.
Each PMO also had its preparations to ensure a safe and smooth public ride.
Preparation of PMO NCR North is in full swing with expected more than 25,000 passengers during the Holy Week season.
PPA also added seats to the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) PMO Negros Oriental/Siquijor, Port of Dumaguete, and Port of Guihulngan along with the installation of directional signages to facilitate the movement of passengers.
Other ports including Port of Matnog, port of Masbate, Surigao, Zamboanga, Lucena, Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro, and PMO Negros Occidental Bacolod/Banago/Bredco are also prepared for the influx of passenger
Sea passenger volume has increased by 24 percent to 73.6 million last year from 59.2 million passengers in the previous year, however, it is still lower as compared to the pre-pandemic level of 83.7 million passengers according to PPA data released last month.
However, the cargo traffic volume in the country last year has already exceeded the pre-pandemic level in 2019 driven by growth in both domestic and foreign cargo services.
PPA data showed that cargo throughput grew 5 percent to 271.9 million metric tons (MT) in 2023 versus 259.14 million MT in 2022. As compared to 265.9 million MT cargo throughput during pre-pandemic it was up by 2.3 percent.
Domestic cargo was slightly up to 98.9 million MT last year from 98.3 million MT last year while foreign cargo was up 8 percent to 173.06 million MT from 160.8 million MT.
From January to October last year, PPA reported a total revenue of P21.06 billion, or 30 percent growth over the same period during the previous year, due to higher volumes of cargo and vessel income.
