Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recorded almost 1.7 million port passengers nationwide since March 28. In an interview over Radyo Pilipinas, PCG Spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stated that this total includes both inbound and outbound passengers, with the highest numbers seen in Central Cebu, Batangas, Aklan, Iloilo, and Oriental Mindoro.

According to Philippines News Agency, these areas are notable for their popular tourist destinations and coastal beaches, which contribute to the high volume of travelers. The PCG had anticipated a large number of port passengers based on similar patterns seen in the previous Holy Week. Last year, the PCG monitored almost three million passengers, prompting intensified pre-departure inspections of all sea-going vessels, including ships and motorboats, to prevent overloading.

Cayabyab urged the public to utilize the 'eSumbong' online reporting system to report any suspicious persons or incidents. This system is a part of the PCG's Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement (ICARE) program. QR codes have been distributed across all ships, terminals, and ports, allowing passengers to easily report issues by scanning the codes, ensuring a swift response from the PCG.

From midnight to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the PCG monitored 22,135 outbound passengers and 22,503 inbound passengers across all ports nationwide. On Tuesday, the total numbers were 186,952 outbound passengers and 152,492 inbound passengers.