The two attached agencies of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) appear to have disagreements over the implementation of an online ticketing system for vessels, which is seen as a solution to the long queues of passengers buying tickets during peak seasons.

For years, voyagers have expressed frustration on social media during long holiday breaks, particularly the Lenten and Christmas seasons, as they endure hours-long queues just to purchase vessel tickets to their destinations.

On Tuesday, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Sonia Malaluan, who oversees domestic shipping operators, inspected vessels at Batangas Port to ensure strict adherence to maritime safety regulations.

“Safety is non-negotiable. With the expected surge of passengers this Holy Week, we are doubling our efforts to ensure that vessels are compliant with safety protocols and ready to transport passengers safely and efficiently,” Malaluan said in a statement. The inspection was not open to media coverage.

Administrator Malaluan also met with key officials from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Southern Tagalog Headquarters, led by District Commander Geronimo Tuvilla, to discuss inter-agency efforts in ensuring passenger safety and vessel compliance. The meeting reaffirmed Marina’s strong partnership with the PCG in maritime enforcement and safety initiatives.

Asked whether Marina had mandated domestic vessels to implement or invest in an online ticketing system to improve service for passengers, the agency clarified there was no such order.

“There is no order from Marina for a mandatory online booking system. Our appeal is for passengers to plan their trips and get their tickets early. To date, some shipping companies have an online ticketing system in place,” a Marina staff member said.

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago, meanwhile, has criticized local shipping companies for failing to adopt online ticketing systems, continuing to rely on traditional methods that result in long lines and confusion among passengers.

ETMS: A ray of light

In a Viber interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE on Wednesday, Santiago said DOTR Secretary Vince Dizon had tasked them to revisit the implementation of the electronic terminal management system (ETMS), which was previously suspended by the DoTr in September 2022 and scrapped by the PPA Board in 2023 under then-Secretary Jimmy Bautista.

Santiago said this move aligns with a Joint Memorandum Circular initiated by the Anti-Red Tape Authority, which called for the implementation of an electronic ticketing system to address persistent queueing issues, particularly in Matnog, Sorsogon in 2022.

ETMS features unified electronic ticketing capabilities under PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 12-2019.

The AO, issued in November 2019, outlines the rules for implementing a central ticketing system and an online application process that supports integrated vessel booking and a payment system for roll-on/roll-off ports.

The ETMS aims to "provide a digitized and systematized process of recording and simultaneous submission of passenger manifest and vessel voyage information which can effectively be scaled and extended to support future phases of the terminal management process at the PPA port terminals."

“With this new directive, the PPA is hopeful that it will be able to finally implement its electronic terminal management system in order to provide a more efficient, transparent, and convenient manner for passengers to book their sea travels,” Santiago said.

With the Lenten break approaching, Santiago noted that passenger traffic across all ports, including Batangas Port, is expected to ramp up starting 12 April.

Last year, the PPA reported that over 144,000 passengers traveled through Batangas Port during the Holy Week.