EXODUS STARTS

Authorities are expecting around three million passengers in various seaports and at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as Filipinos start the annual Holy Week travel to take advantage of the long holiday break for religious activity, vacation, and bonding with friends and relatives.

- By AARON RECUENCO

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said they expect 1.73 million passengers in various ports across the country from April 14 to 20 this year, a 3.5 percent increase from the 1.67 passengers recorded last year.

PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said that in the first three weeks of March alone, passenger numbers have already reached 3,027,881, or an average of 1,009,294 passengers per week.

"For Holy Week, port passenger traffic is expected to peak, nearing prepandemic figures, with an estimated 1,729,426 travelers utilized port facilities during the Lenten season," said Santiago.

Based on the PPA analysis, the top five ports this Lenten season include the Port Management Offices (PMO) of Batangas with around 20,000 to 25,000 daily average passengers during peak season.