Manila: The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is expecting the number of port passengers for this year's Holy Week to reach over 1.73 million from April 14 to 20. In a statement on Tuesday, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the expected total this year is a 3.5 percent increase from the 1.67 million passengers during the same period last year.

According to Philippines News Agency, Santiago emphasized the preparedness of the PPA for the increased number of passengers this Holy Week 2025, noting the overlap of the Lenten season with summer. He highlighted that many local travelers are taking advantage of the long days off, while tourists see it as an opportunity to explore the islands via sea travel.

To accommodate the increased number of passengers, Santiago ordered the deployment of additional personnel and enhanced terminal operations in key ports. The measures include optimizing passenger terminal facilities, ensuring the functionality of security and safety equipment, and deploying port police for crowd control and assistance.

Further preparations by the PPA include conducting maintenance checks on critical infrastructure in anticipation of the surge in travelers. Santiago assured the public of readiness with adequate manpower, appropriate facilities, and backup systems in place at the ports. However, he appealed to passengers to book tickets in advance and allocate extra time for travel to the ports during this peak season.

To assist commuters, help desks have been established in major ports nationwide to provide immediate information and address concerns of travelers. According to PPA data, the top five ports this Lenten season will be Port Management Office (PMO) Batangas, PMO Mindoro, PMO Panay/Guimaras, PMO Negros Oriental/Siquijor, and PMO Bohol.

In the first three weeks of March, passenger numbers have reached 3,027,881, averaging 1,009,294 passengers per week.