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The Philippine Ports Authority recorded 2.23 million passengers across national ports during the Holy Week 2026 period
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Passenger count was down 7% from the 2.41 million during the same period in 2025
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Top ports by passenger volume: Panay/Guimaras, Batangas, Negros Oriental/Siquijor, Mindoro, and Davao
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No accidents or untoward incidents recorded at any port during the entire period
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PPA general manager Jay Santiago cited high fuel costs and fare increases as the main factors dampening travel volume
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PPA’s newly launched Online Reservation Assistance System (ORAS) was deployed at select ports during the period to streamline ticket purchases and reduce long queues
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recorded 2.23 million passengers across national ports during the Holy Week 2026 period as surging fuel prices and the resulting increase in boat fares kept a number of Filipinos from making their traditional homeward journeys.
PPA reported in a news release that this year’s passenger traffic from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday was down from 2.41 million during the same period last year.
Port operations remained smooth and orderly throughout the period, with no accidents or untoward incidents reported at any PPA-managed facility.
The port management offices (PMOs) that handled the heaviest passenger volumes were Panay/Guimaras, Batangas, Negros Oriental/Siquijor, Mindoro, and Davao.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago attributed the softer turnout to the economic pressure that elevated petroleum prices have placed on traveling Filipinos, while crediting early operational preparations and passenger cooperation with keeping port operations running without disruption.
“Nevertheless, Holy Week 2026 remained orderly and well‑managed because of our early preparations and the cooperation of passengers with the new systems we implemented to improve their port experience,” Santiago said.
The agency said the decline in homebound passengers was driven by a combination of factors: rising oil prices that pushed sea fares higher, some travelers strategically choosing to travel outside peak days to avoid crowds, and others opting to forgo the trip altogether to manage expenses.
Meanwhile, the Holy Week period served as an early test for the PPA’s newly introduced Online Reservation Assistance System, or ORAS, which was implemented at selected ports to let passengers book ferry tickets before arriving at the terminal, helping to reduce in-person queues.
READ: PPA launches Online Reservation Assistance System
Passengers who used the system reported that it gave them greater certainty over their travel slot ahead of departure, though some first-time users noted a learning curve in navigating the platform, according to PPA.
PPA said that it will keep working on initiatives to enhance passenger experience and simplify port operations, despite ongoing high petroleum product prices that continue to dampen sea travel demand nationwide.
