THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday, October 27, conducted an inspection at the Batangas Port to ensure the readiness of port facilities and personnel in anticipation of the surge of passengers returning to their hometowns in the island provinces of MIMAROPA and the Visayas for the observance of Undas (All Saints’ and All Souls’ days).
DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez led the inspection together with Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago.
They said the port’s passenger terminal remained manageable as of Monday, but authorities added they expect the influx of passengers at ports to begin by Thursday, October 30.
Santiago said they expect.
During the inspection, Lopez also checked the ticketing booths of various shipping lines to determine if they were already implementing online booking to prevent long queues and ensure that passenger vessels would not be overloaded.
However, the DOTr officials discovered that only a few shipping lines currently offer online ticket booking.
“Ang sinasabi po ng iba at ito rin naman po ay base na rin sa aking pag-aaral, mas mahirap minsan ang pagmo-monitor kapag hindi online kung sumusobra ang mga pasahero. ‘Yun sinasabi nating overloading especially kapag ganitong panahon na Undas o holiday season. So kailangan talaga natin ‘yung online,” Lopez said.
He directed the PPA to implement online booking for all shipping lines.
“Tulad ng sabi ng ating pangulo ang online, no line, mas mapapabilis at mas convenient ang ating mga pasahero,” he added.
Meanwhile, Santiago said they are now reviewing the implementation of the online booking system, a program that has long been delayed due to opposition from some shipping lines.
“We are still coordinating with DOTr, MARINA (Marine Industry Authority) at PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) kung papaano natin i-implement dahil napakatagal na ng prosesong ito, ng sistema niyan. Matagal nang nasimulan ‘yan and na-overtake na ng technology. Kung dati may mga kioks tayo, ngayon ang tinitingnan natin nasa mobile na na hindi na natin kailangan ng kiosks,” Santiago explained.
He added: “Sa mga nakaraan kasi may resistance din sa mga shipping lines and the same time ‘yung mga nakaraang pamumuno sa DOTr medyo malamig din ang pagtanggap nila sa sistema na pino-propose natin.”
According to PPA estimates, Batangas Port is expected to handle around 19,000 to 22,000 passengers daily this year, up from 11,000 to 12,000 per day last year.
The PPA expects the number of passengers at ports nationwide to reach 2,182,538 from October 27 to November 5, higher than the 1,918,921 passengers recorded last year. (ABS-CBN News)
