DESPITE its forecast last week that passenger volume for Holy Week will increase by two percent or 2.5 million, recent figures from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) showed that seagoing passengers declined sharply this year.
The Actual Seaports Passenger Traffic released by PPA last Monday revealed that only a total of 1,885,169 passengers traveled by sea, a 21.9149-percent decrease from 2025 with 2,414,248 passengers.
According to PPA, the figures are based on inbound and outbound passengers from PPA-managed ports only.
The sharp decrease was recorded amid ship fare hikes due to rising fuel costs.
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), last March 31, allowed a maximum increase of 30 percent from the base fare or published rate of domestic shipping companies or operators.
The highest volume of seagoing passengers for this year’s Lenten season was recorded during Holy Wednesday at 314,143, an 18.62-percent decrease from 2025 with 386,026 passengers.
Meanwhile, the sharpest decline was seen on Easter Sunday with only 226,840 passengers, a 45.45-percent decrease from 415,858 in 2025.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), with figures based on all ports nationwide, reported that there is a total of 3.4 million inbound and outbound passengers.
The PCG also reported a decrease in drowning incidents from 53 in 2025 to 37 this year.
PCG spokesman Commodore Noemi Cayabyab attributed this to the strong information campaign on maritime safety by the Coast Guard, local government units, beach owners, different government agencies, and the press.
