Following a lower-than-expected passenger turnout during the short Undas break, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is bracing for a surge of travelers taking advantage of an upcoming five-day holiday next week due to the country’s hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit.
Malacañang has declared November 16 to 18 as special non-working days in Metro Manila for the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. Combined with the preceding weekend, the break spans from November 14 to 18, prompting many workers and students to defer their travel plans.
Netizens have already begun discussing plans to head to their home provinces or vacation spots starting Friday night, November 13.
“Based on our assessment—given that the (Undas) break is quite short, spanning only from Saturday to Monday—we anticipate that many of our fellow citizens may have decided to postpone their travel until next week,” said PPA General Manager Daniel Santiago.
“That period will feature a five-day holiday, from November 14 to 18, coinciding with the ASEAN summit,” he added.
This strategic postponement also follows a 15 percent increase in ferry ticket prices driven by recent oil price hikes.
PPA data showed that overall passenger traffic across supervised ports dropped by 16 percent from October 27 to November 2 compared to the same period in 2025, falling from 1,623,836 to 1,362,454 passengers. Daily numbers consistently trailed last year’s figures: October 27 saw a 22 percent drop (from 227,809 to 176,923), October 28 dropped 22 percent (from 213,339 to 166,406), and October 31 dipped 7.6 percent (from 265,899 to 245,718).
At Batangas Port, October 31 traffic plummeted from a usual 17,000–21,000 range down to just 7,000–8,000. Subsequent days also registered lower figures, including November 1 (falling from 192,698 to 163,272) and November 2 (falling from 253,732 to 209,886).
Despite the initial lower traffic, the PPA maintains its readiness for next week’s influx. Port Management Office personnel remain on high alert to ensure emergency readiness, while select ports will offer free shuttle bus services. The Online Reservation Assistance System (ORAS) is accessible at major ports like Lucena, Balanacan, Calapan, and Batangas.
Additionally, passenger terminal building (PTB) fees at the modern Lucena Port remain waived until December 31, alongside security enhancements, functional CCTVs, and complimentary water and snacks.