Ports ban firecrackers, meat

Port authorities try to ensure safe travel for ferry passengers

Fireworks and meat products that domestic travelers bring to local ports will be confiscated, the Philippine Ports Authority has warned.

PPA General Manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago also urged passengers to ensure that they have booked a sailing ticket and avoid being a chance passenger as port traffic is expected to surge on 29 and 30 December, Rizal Day, a holiday.

“Some agricultural and meat products will be confiscated by the Bureau of Quarantine because bringing these in is prohibited in some provinces to avoid the entry of ASF (African swine fever). Confiscated meats will be disposed of by the BoQ and cannot be retrieved,” Santiago said during his interview with the Daily Tribune’s digital show Straight Talk on Tuesday.

Santiago advised passengers to first know the regulations being imposed by their local government units about bringing in raw, cooked or processed meats, as some provinces like Oriental Mindoro don’t allow it to prevent an ASF outbreak that can harm hog breeders.

Oriental Mindoro is ASF-free, based on the data of the Department of Agriculture.

Long queues

Meanwhile, the PPA chief said the number of passengers utilizing the country’s ports has exceeded the pre-pandemic levels, particularly in the Port of Batangas. From 25,000 in 2019, the port recorded 27,000 passengers last 23 December.

Based on the monitoring of the Philippine Coast Guard, there were 49,403 outbound and 46,415 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide as of 27 December, Tuesday.

Last December’s typhoon “Odette” reduced inter-island voyages by 40 to 50 percent, according to Santiago.

“We had a hard time meeting the demand of our voyaging kababayans,” he said, noting that this is the main reason why there are long queues of passengers and rolling cargoes, especially during peak season.

Turnaround time of the only 13 vessels operating in the Port of Batangas is also delayed forcing many passengers to wait.

“The turnaround takes a very long time, particularly for those passengers leaving the Port of Batangas going to Ports of Calapan, Caticlan and Romblon. Sometimes, they have to endure a half-day waiting time. We really need more vessels to augment the influx of passengers and cargo,” he revealed.

Aside from the scarcity of vessels, Santiago said weather conditions also affect the turnaround time and the speed of vessels.

“Gale warnings released by PAGASA indeed affect the sea operations because it means that waves are huge, therefore, fast crafts and motor bancas cannot sail on their routes, as they are susceptible to accidents. But big vessels can go through rough seas and were allowed to journey by the Philippine Coast Guard,” he said.

Last 23 December, hundreds of passengers in various ports were stranded because of the gale warning issued by PAGASA due to huge waves and rough seas brought about by the shear line or the sudden change in the horizontal component of the wind that creates heavy downpours.

Santiago maintained that the PPA is ready for yet another influx of passengers for the New Year celebration, as well as those passengers going back to Manila from 1 January 2023 onwards.

“On the issue of vessel shortage, we have already informed the Maritime Industry Authority and the Department of Transportation if they can issue special permits and if they can look for additional vessels, especially in critical areas such as the Port of Batangas and Matnog in Sorsogon. Indeed, we gained more learnings with the 2022 Christmas in terms of passenger handling,” he said.

Santiago urged the public, particularly travelers, to monitor situations in ports, airports and bus terminals through the Facebook pages of PPA, Department of Transportation, as well as media outlets, to be fully informed on what to do during peak season.

There were 49,403 outbound and 46,415 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide.