CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — As millions of Filipinos prepare to travel during the Holy Week, Philippine authorities are stepping up efforts to ensure safe and convenient journeys, particularly for those traveling by sea.
In a televised interview on ‘Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon”, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) spokesperson Eunice Samonte said the agency is working closely with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to prevent vessel “overloading” amid the expected surge in passengers.
Samonte said that one of the current policies requires close coordination between government agencies to avoid overloading.
“Isa po sa naging patakaran ngayon ay dapat close coordination between PPA, MARINA at Philippine Coast Guard para maiwasan itong overloading dahil ang pinakapriority po talaga ngayon ay ‘yung safety at convenience ng ating mga pasahero so bawal na bawal po ang overloading,” she said.
The heightened alert comes as government agencies anticipate a massive influx of passengers at major ports across the country.
Samonte identified the busiest terminals as the Batangas Port, along with ports in Mindoro, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Bohol, and several others in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
During the Holy Week period from March 22 to April 2, 2024, the PPA said that Mindoro recorded with the highest passenger traffic during this period. PPA recorded a total of 213,036 passengers across various ports in Mindoro islands. Followed by Batangas Port with 212,515 passengers.
Earlier, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon had already issued warnings to shipping lines to enforce maritime safety protocols.
Vessels found violating loading capacity regulations risk losing their licenses.
Samonte warned that should there be sufficient proof of overloading, the vessel’s license may be revoked.
“Sakali man pong may makapagpakita ng patunay at saka kung mayroon man pong issue ng overloading, maaari pong makansela ang kanilang lisensya,” she added.
According to the Port Management Office (PMO) Mindoro, there have been no recent reports of overloading issues involving shipping lines on the Batangas–Mindoro route this year.
However, in 2023, the MARINA temporarily suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of Montenegro Shipping Lines’ MV Helena after the vessel ran aground near Banton Island in Romblon. This suspension was part of an investigation into the incident, and the certificate remained suspended until further notice from MARINA.
Montenegro Shipping Lines has since introduced the M/V Santa Faustina, its largest ROPAX vessel, which is expected to serve routes connecting Mindoro to other destinations. While the exact routes are yet to be confirmed, this addition reflects the company’s commitment to modernizing its fleet and improving service quality.
Government agencies have assured the public that joint monitoring and inspections will be ongoing throughout the holiday period to ensure vessels adhere to the required maximum capacity limits.
With millions expected to travel for the Lenten break, authorities are calling on shipping operators to comply with safety standards to avoid disruptions and potential penalties.
Meanwhile, frontline agencies in the MIMAROPA region such as the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, PPA, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection, among others, are on alert to ensure peaceful, orderly and safe observance of the Holy Week. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
