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Evelyn Macairan - The Philippine Star
March 30, 2026 | 1:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Despite the continuing oil crisis and high cost of living, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) foresees no significant impact on the number of sea travelers this Holy Week, which is estimated to be around three million.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said no significant reduction is expected in the number of arriving and departing passengers to be recorded at seaports during the Holy Week, compared to last year.
“What we are so far seeing is that there might only be minimal effect in the volume of passengers this weekend,” Cayabyab told radio dzBB yesterday. “We are still seeing a significant increase in the number of passengers… this is an anticipated vacation for some people. The Philippine Coast Guard is seeing that the number of sea passengers would still be around three million, almost the same number of travelers monitored last year.”
The PCG began monitoring the volume of sea passengers on March 28, in line with the government’s Oplan Byaheng Ayos Semana Santa 2026.
The PCG would be on heightened alert until April 5.
As of yesterday morning, the PCG’s command center monitored 390,000 outbound and inbound passengers, mostly at the ports of Batangas, Cebu, Bohol and Oriental Mindoro.
But Cayabyab said this might yet not be the peak days for travel this Holy Week since some people might still have to report to work on Monday and Tuesday.
They are expecting the influx of sea port passengers in the afternoon of either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The PCG earlier said it would be deploying 17,000 personnel to aid Holy Week sea travelers.
It has coordinated with the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Ports Authority.
Air travelers increase
The Bureau of Immigration is expecting an increase in the number of air travelers this Holy Week, according to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
“We anticipate a significant increase in passenger traffic this Holy Week. Our officers are fully deployed to ensure smooth and efficient processing, but we strongly advise the public to arrive early and come prepared with complete documents,” Viado said.
He said travelers should also make sure that all their required travel documents have been secured in advance to avoid delay.
Viado gave assurance that the bureau has deployed additional frontline personnel in major international airports to attend to the expected surge in passenger volume.
He reminded government workers traveling abroad, even for personal purposes, to present a travel authority from their respective agencies.
Passengers who would be traveling with a minor should secure the necessary travel clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Foreigners who have stayed in the Philippines for over six months are reminded to secure their Emigration Clearance Certificates prior to departure.
Registered foreigners holding ACR I-Cards are advised to obtain their re-entry permits ahead of time through BI offices or at the BI One-Stop-Shop at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez inspected NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to ensure that the facilities such as check-in counters, self check-in kiosks, general aviation one-stop shop, immigration e-gates, and waiting areas at the airport are ready for the expected influx of passengers this Holy Week.
The DOTr, along with the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of NAIA, also set up a help desk to assist passengers in need.
According to NNIC’s estimate, average daily passengers at NAIA will reach 150,000 this Holy Week, higher than the 147,000 daily average in 2025.
Road worthiness checks, inspection protocols
Safety protocols are now in place as authorities prepare for Holy Week when many Filipinos go back to their provinces, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said.
LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza II said they have ordered all regional directors to initiate road worthiness inspection protocols in bus and other public utility vehicle terminals.
Coordination with other government agencies like the local government units and law enforcement agencies should also be done to maximize the assistance and road safety rules implementation.
Apart from the road safety rules, local LTFRB officials were also tasked to ensure that operators of PUV terminals are following the rules and regulations on safety and comfort of the passengers.
The Land Transportation Office will be conducting various initiatives such as patrolling against colorum vehicles, safety inspections of public transport vehicles, random drug testing of drivers, and enforcement of laws such as seatbelt use, prohibition of cellphone use while driving, and child safety laws in vehicles.
Mystery riders will be deployed to check on proper fare collection and overloading. — Rudy Santos, Josiah Antonio
