PPA on heightened alert for 4.6 million sea passengers

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December 16, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Ports Authority went on heightened alert yesterday as the PPA anticipates 4.6 million people traveling through the seaports this Christmas season.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said all frontline and operations personnel are not allowed to go on leave until the alert status is lifted on Jan. 5.

Santiago said the PPA is expecting an increase of about 250,000 to 300,000 passengers this year, to surpass last year’s record of 4.4 million people traveling by sea.

“On a year-to-year basis, we project an increase in passenger activity,” Santiago said.

He added that more people are expected to travel this year because the holidays are “sandwiched” between working days, referring to Christmas Day next Thursday, Rizal Day on Dec. 30 and New Year’s Day.

The PPA expects the bulk of the travelers to use the ports of Batangas, Cebu and Calapan in Oriental Mindoro as well as San Pedro and Dumangas in Iloilo City, among other busy seaports.

Santiago assured travelers that the PPA is prepared to handle the volume of passengers passing through the ports, adding that the agency is working with the Philippine Coast Guard, Police Maritime Group and other law enforcement units to maintain peace and order at port areas nationwide.

He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepared ready-to-eat food packs, in case some passengers get stranded at the ports.