30 MARCHÌý2023, MANILA —ÌýThe Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is now implementing its "No Leave Policy" and "Full Manpower" directive from General Manager Jay Santiago during this Holy Week in preparation for the expected influx of passengers.
The issued memorandum in lieu of said directive is effective from April 3 to April 10, 2023 from which the personnel are expected to cater to the needs of thousands of passengers this Lenten season. According to °µÍø³Ô¹ÏGM Jay Santiago, this order covers all personnel including PPA’s frontline services on duty. Ìý
"Our security personnel are on heightened alert and all the filed leaves of the °µÍø³Ô¹Ïpersonnel in the frontline services have been canceled to ensure that the needs of passengers flocking at our ports during Holy Week are provided," said GM Santiago.
Based on PPA's passenger traffic statistics during Holy Week of 2022 from Palm Sunday Ìýto Easter Sunday, the number of passengers that utilized the ports managed by the agency has reached almost 1.3 million. Passenger traffic forecast for same period of this year, on the other hand, is at more than 2.2 million.
Before this year’s Holy Week, the °µÍø³Ô¹Ïinaugurated its newly completed facilities located at its large terminals which are expected to cater huge number of passengers this coming peak season. These include the largest Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in the country located at the Port of Calapan, and the two other Port Operations Buildings (POBs) at the Port of Coron in Palawan and in Masbate Port tagged as #TatloSaMarso.
"It is timely that we opened new facilities in Masbate, Coron and Calapan these past few weeks as it is intended to bring comfort for the passengers. All of them have new and improved restrooms, prayer rooms, breastfeeding areas and charging stations that are ready for usage of our travelers," Santiago added.
The °µÍø³Ô¹Ïreminds the public, particularly passengers, to plan their trip ahead and avoid last minute bookings as this is one of the main causes of inconvenience and delays especially during peak season of passengers at ports.
The No Leave Policy and Oplan Biyaheng Ayos are in effect at the 25 Port Management Offices (PMOs) under °µÍø³Ô¹Ïwhich include more than 120 ports managed by the agency nationwide.
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