Thousands rush home for Christmas
The government’s transportation sector managers noted the start of the massive movement of Filipinos for the Christmas holiday with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reporting over 32,000 travelers in the country’s ports on Friday alone.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) also expected an increase of more than 200,000 travelers in the 44 airports under the Caap’s jurisdiction, but the agency said it was ready to accommodate the surge.
In a statement, the Caap said on Friday that the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Pasko 2024 started on Friday until Jan. 3.
“Caap recognizes the importance of a stress-free travel experience during the holiday season. By ensuring the reliability of our systems and the readiness of our facilities, we aim to deliver smooth and safe journeys for all passengers,” Caap Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo said.
The Caap advised travelers to plan trips early, arrive at the airport two to three hours ahead of their flight schedules, follow airport guidelines for a hassle-free journey, and avoid bringing sharp and pointed objects, such as knives, scissors and similar items in hand-carried luggage.
5 days to go
In the seaports, the PCG tallied 20,024 outbound passengers and 12,596 inbound passengers from midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday.
The Coast Guard added that it deployed 2,747 personnel in 16 PCG districts, inspecting 172 vessels and 73 motor bancas.
In anticipation of increased maritime activity for Christmas and New Year, PCG previously alerted its districts, stations and substations.
The Coast Guard also reminded the public to coordinate with its Public Affairs Service through its social media pages or its hotline at (0927) 560-7729 for concerns about sea travel protocols over the holidays.
The PCG has been on heightened alert since Dec. 13 and will remain so until Jan. 6, according to PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
“Our countrymen have long been waiting for this season to spend quality time with their families and loved ones, either at their home provinces or in various vacation spots. Thus, we are anticipating and preparing for the high volume of maritime traffic.”
“We conduct 24/7 monitoring of nautical highways routes, especially in the Visayas where most tourist destinations are located. Rest assured, we will ensure maritime security and safety on our western and eastern seaboards, including interisland routes. Our deployable response groups and the PCG Auxiliary are ready for these operations,” Gavan said in a statement.
