Port authorities have observed a noticeable drop in passenger traffic across the country for the annual Undas (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day) exodus compared to figures recorded in 2025.
Data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) showed a 13% decline in passenger volume at the Batangas Port—the country’s largest in terms of capacity—dropping from 11,342 passengers at noontime on October 30 last year to 9,863 this year. The port serves as a vital maritime link connecting Luzon to Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, and Cebu.
A similar trend was monitored at the Port of Lucena, which connects mainland Luzon to Marinduque and neighboring islands. The facility recorded 6,674 passengers on October 29, marking a 19% decrease from the 8,251 passengers logged on the same day in 2025.
Addressing potential factors behind the drop, such as economic strains or a financial crunch, PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago clarified that the decline stems largely from practical considerations among Filipino travelers, pointing specifically to the brief three-day weekend running from Saturday to Monday.
“Medyo maigsi ang break natin kaya we anticipated na kakaunti ang bibiyahe,” Santiago said.
Despite the current dip, the PPA projects a total of roughly 1.93 million travelers to pass through Philippine ports between October 27 and November 5 for the holiday season—representing a modest 1.55% increase over last year’s traffic of about 1.9 million passengers for the same timeframe.
Looking ahead, Santiago suggested that many travelers may be opting to defer their provincial trips until a longer holiday break arrives in mid-November.
Malacañang previously declared November 16 to 18 as special non-working days in Metro Manila to accommodate the country’s hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
For many residents in the capital, the resulting five-day weekend beginning Saturday, November 14, provides an ideal opportunity for travel and vacations.
“May mga kababayan tayo na wala namang participation sa ASEAN na at they may take advantage ng break na yun at sila ay aalis magbabakasyon,” Santiago noted, adding that the PPA is already preparing for the expected surge during that period.