Passenger ships inspected ahead of Undas travel rush
MARITIME Industry Authority Regional Office V and Philippine Coast Guard District Bicol officers inspect vessels in Masbate City on 26 October 2026 as part of preparations for Oplan Undas.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MARINA
Maritime authorities are conducting surprise inspection of passenger vessels in public ports to ensure the seaworthiness of ship ahead of the expected surge in sea travel for Undas (All Saints’ Day/All Souls’ Day) holiday.
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Regional Office 7 director Ronaldo P. Bandalaria led the inspection of ferries at Hagnaya Port and Kawit, Medellin, in the province of Cebu, the agency’s Facebook post on Wednesday read.
Crew readiness for emergencies and adherence to maritime safety standards were the focus of inspection.
The inspections aimed to promptly identify safety deficiencies and ensure that corrective actions are taken should any violations be discovered.
Bandalaria emphasized the importance of regular vessel maintenance, strict compliance with safety protocols, and adequate crew training to prevent accidents at sea.
Safety inspections were also conducted on passenger ships at the Port of Batangas on Tuesdy, led by Marina Deputy Administrator for Operations Loumer P. Bernabe and with Enforcement Service (ES) director Luisito delos Santos. Inspected were ship certificates and documents, life-saving appliances, electrical systems, crew complement, and crew competency to check compliance with maritime safety requirements.
The inspections are part of Marina’s preparations for Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Undas 2026, aimed at identifying safety deficiencies and ensuring passenger vessels meet prescribed standards before sailing.
Technical personnel from the Marina ES and Regional Office 4 conducted the compliance monitoring and inspection with support from the Philippine Coast Guard. The team also coordinated with Philippine Ports Authority-Port Management Office Batangas Port Manager Aurora A. Mendoza before the inspection.
Marina said it would continue working with port authorities and maritime stakeholders to strengthen safety enforcement and help prevent accidents as more Filipinos travel by sea for the holidays.