Rough sea conditions triggered maritime mishaps across parts of the country during the Undas travel rush, even as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) tracked more than 907,000 passengers moving through national seaports as of Sunday, November 1.
PCG Spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab reported that maritime incidents occurred over the past several days as thousands journeyed to the provinces for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
“As we speak, almost 910,000 passengers have been monitored nationwide in our ports, and we are conducting 24/7 monitoring in all ports and even in our command centers in all regional offices,” Cayabyab said.
Between midnight on October 29 and 6 a.m. on November 1, the PCG recorded a combined total of 907,127 travelers, consisting of 475,721 outbound and 431,406 inbound passengers.
Cayabyab noted that passenger volume dipped compared to last year’s approximately 1.5 million travelers, attributing the decrease partly to higher transport fares.
“We expect passengers to return tomorrow, although Nov. 2 is still part of the holiday. We noticed that the number is somewhat lower compared to last year, when we recorded 1.5 million. Based on our interviews with passengers, the increase in fares is one of the reasons. Some families have decided to stay in their homes instead,” she explained.
The PCG will continue monitoring passenger traffic through Monday to capture the full scope of holiday returnees.
Maritime Incidents and Rescues
Despite the rough weather, the PCG recorded no overloaded vessels, enforcing strict departure caps directed by Commandant Admiral Rommel Supangan.
“On excess passengers, the strict directive of our Commandant, Admiral Rommel Supangan, is that we will not allow any motorboat or vessel to depart if passenger capacity is exceeded,” Cayabyab said.
However, adverse weather still led to two notable vessel incidents:
- M/B Rose Marie 1: A motorboat partially submerged off Dalupiri Island in Calayan, Cagayan, on October 31. All eight crew members were rescued by the PCG and transported to the Calayan Rural Health Unit. One crew member sustained a knee laceration while three were evaluated for suspected hypertension.
- MV Virgen de Peñafrancia II: A roll-on/roll-off vessel operated by Starhorse Shipping Lines Inc. partially submerged near Real Port on October 30 after strong currents snapped its mooring line, causing it to tilt to its starboard side. All 40 passengers and 18 crew members were safely evacuated, with three passengers sustaining minor injuries from a shifting drum.
Coastal and Beach Patrols
As travelers head back, the PCG has amplified its presence at coastal areas and island resorts by deploying response groups, lifeguards, foot patrols, sea patrols, and small watercraft. These operations are reinforced by community-based water search and rescue and basic life support trainings conducted in coastal barangays.
“Because of the size of our country and its archipelagic nature, there are areas where we do not have offices or units. Through these trainings, if the PCG is not immediately available, those we have trained in the communities can help carry out the response,” Cayabyab said.