PCG: Fewer ship passengers due to shorter Christmas break

MANILA, Philippines - With a shorter Christmas break this year, domestic passenger ships have been able to fill only 65 percent to 70 percent of their capacities in the past few days, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Only about 65 percent to 70 percent of the passenger ships are being filled up unlike before, during this time the ships would already be 100 percent occupied,” PCG-National Capital Region-Central Luzon (NCR-CL) district commander Commodore Luis Tuason said yesterday.

He said fewer Filipinos apparently have opted to spend the holidays in the provinces.

Unlike in the past years when Filipinos enjoyed long Christmas breaks, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 this year fall on the weekend, thus leaving little time for vacation on weekdays.

The PCG official believed that only those with roots in nearby provinces would be willing to travel. Batangas and Oriental Mindoro are two of the favorite destinations for Metro Manila travelers this year.

He said many Filipinos have opted not to venture to the Visayas or Mindanao since sea travel to such destinations usually take two to three days.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente said that they have deployed additional personnel to man the ports in compliance with the Department of Transportation and Communication’s (DOTC) “Oplan Ligtas na Krismas.”

As of early yesterday morning, the PCG has rendered assistance to more than 22,000 sea passengers.

They have also reactivated their Public Assistance Centers (PAC) in different seaports in the country, intensified their boarding teams and sea marshals, and deployed 126 K-9 dogs trained to sniff explosives and illegal drugs.

The PACs would be jointly manned by personnel from PCG, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Ports Authority.

They would also intensify the conduct of Mandatory Pre-Departure Inspection (MPDI) to prevent over-crowding and over-loading of vessels. This would also make certain that vessels are seaworthy prior to departure.