The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has called on the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to review and update the policies governing the operation of shipping lines, as holiday passenger traffic continues to strain port facilities.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the recent surge in travelers has exposed longstanding gaps in how shipping lines manage schedules and ticketing.
“We’ve consistently recorded 15,000 to 17,000 passengers on regular days at Batangas Port. During peak season, this rises to 20,000 to 22,000, and just last Sunday, more than 30,000 people passed through the port — a record-breaking single day,” Santiago said.
Despite the influx, Santiago noted that the terminals themselves are prepared to handle the volume, with designated areas for arrivals and departures. Still, he expressed concern over the limited number of vessels and the operational practices of some shipping lines.
“Ang ibibenta mong ticket po ay sa susunod na biyahe na and so on and so forth. Nag-snowball po kasi,” the General Manager said.
“Katulad po doon sa kahapon naman po sa report sa akin sa Lucena, napakarami pong tao ang naghihintay po doon sa Lucena dahil walang dumarating ng barko… Matumal daw ang biyaheng pa-lucena kaya naghihintay pa sila,” he further explained.
Santiago highlighted that the PPA oversees port operations, but the management of shipping lines falls under MARINA.
He said existing policies are outdated and no longer align with current passenger demands.
“Ang sa akin lamang po siguro kailangang revisahin na din po siguro ng Marina, yung mga polisiya po na existing na polisiya ngayon sa pag-ooperate po ng mga shipping lines natin,” Santiago explained.
“Medyo talaga pong makaluma na at parang hindi po umaakma sa kasalukuyang panahon” he added.
While some shipping operators have implemented online booking, Santiago explained that the number of vessels remains a limiting factor.
He cited the Batangas-Romblon route, where only two ships make a single daily trip, making it difficult to accommodate high demand. Delays and congestion are also reported in Lucena due to ships being held up in other ports.
Santiago urged MARINA to consider policy revisions that would encourage more vessels on high-demand routes, improve scheduling, and minimize long waits for passengers, especially during peak travel seasons.
“Talagang mahihirapan po ang turnaround time ng mabilisan. So ang solusyon po talaga dyan ay magdagdag po talaga ng barko,” the General Manager emphasized.
