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The Department of Transportation directed the Maritime Industry Authority to fast-track the deployment of additional ships in Lucena ports to accommodate more passengers going to Romblon
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Transport secretary Giovanni Lopez said they have been receiving complaints from passengers regarding the shortage of ships serving the Lucena, Quezon-Romblon route
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The Philippine Coast Guard has also been directed to have its vessels on standby to offer free rides to stranded passengers in Lucena when necessary
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MARINA had already issued a relaxation order, allowing ships to depart once maximum passenger or cargo capacity is reached, even before the scheduled departure time, so they can make more trips
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MARINA has also been issuing special orders to ships, allowing them to sail on specific routes
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to fast-track the deployment of additional ships in Lucena ports to accommodate more passengers going to Romblon.
This is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instruction to DOTr to ensure adequate ships to service passengers going home for the Christmas holidays.
MARINA is an attached agency of DOTr.
“Ang haba na ng pila sa Lucena dahil kulang ‘yung mga barko (The line in Lucena is very long),” DOTr secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a statement.
The transport chief added that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) already prompted MARINA a few days ago to allow more ships to operate in the route in anticipation of the deluge of passengers.
“I have been giving firm instructions to always prioritize the comfort and convenience of our passengers in all modes of transportation. That’s why I will ask MARINA to explain why there is a lack of vessels, why it seems that they lacked planning and failed to anticipate the influx of passengers,” Lopez said in mixed English and Filipino.
He added that an investigation will be conducted.
As what they do during peak travel periods, MARINA had earlier already issued a relaxation order allowing ships to depart once maximum passenger or cargo capacity is reached, even before the scheduled departure time, provided that safety protocols are strictly adhered to. Ships may also return immediately to congested ports after disembarking, with clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), PPA, and/or Cebu Port Authority.
This order provides flexibility in sailing schedules and increased trip frequencies.
MARINA Enforcement Service director Luisito Delos Santos, in a media briefing last December 16, said the relaxation order takes effect from December 20 to January 4.
Specifically for MARINA Regional Office IV, which covers Quezon and Romblon, the relaxation order already started on December 16 and will continue until January 11, 2026.
MARINA has also been issuing special orders to ships, allowing them to sail on specific routes.
Apart from additional passenger ships, Lopez also directed the PCG to have its vessel BRP Gabriela Silang on standby to offer free rides to stranded passengers in Lucena when necessary.
Aside from the BRP Gabriela Silang, PCG will also deploy two vessels with 100-passenger capacity each to bring passengers to Romblon. These include BRP Bagacay that will come from Manila, and BRP Suluan from Occidental Mindoro.
