Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Monday ordered maritime agencies under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to prioritize the safety and convenience of the passengers during the observance of Undas 2025 from Nov. 1 to 2.

Lopez issued the order to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure safe and proper travel for passengers.

“You have to ensure that you’ll assist the passengers. May mangyayari na may mga pasahero na magkaka-problema, kayo ang unang lalapitan (There will be passengers who will have programs, and they’ll go to you first),” he said.

During the event, Lopez inspected a Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessel to ensure its readiness and compliance with emergency requirements, including the provision of life vests.

He also inspected port facilities such as waiting areas for passengers and those specific for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD), comfort rooms, dining areas, air-conditioning system, and the port’s 8,000-person seating capacity.

During his inspection of ticketing booths, he called on shipping lines to operate an online ticketing system to provide more convenience and to better avoid overloading.

“Base sa pag-aaral mas mahirap minsan ang pagmomonitor kung sumusobra ang ating mga pasahero. Bawal po ang overloading kaya kailangan talaga natin online (Based on our study, it is sometimes hard to monitor if there are too many passengers. And overloading is illegal, that’s why there must be an online system),” he said.

Lopez was accompanied in the inspection by PPA General Jay Santiago and other executives of the DOTr and its attached agencies.

For his part, Santiago assured passengers that there would be no increase in the terminal fees for the remainder of the year.

The PPA estimated that 2.2 million passengers are expected to flock to the country’s ports this coming Undas, around 15 percent larger than port passengers in the same period last year. (PNA)