The Philippine Ports Authority maintained that if shipping lines still do not embrace digitization, the same problem of long queues of irate passengers painstakingly waiting to be onboarded in domestic vessels during peak season, such as the holiday season, will remain a problem in the country's various ports.
At around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, netizen Lorie Licop posted on Meta (Facebook) of complaining passengers at Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque, as they have to endure the scorching heat waiting for their vessel to arrive at the said port.
In the said video, re-shared by a netizen on Facebook, passengers are seen lining up along the diversion road with no shelter to protect them from the heat of the sun.
One of the commenters said, "The PPA or the local government unit could have at least provided tents for waiting passengers."
Answering this, PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago, through PPA Port Management Office Marinduque/Quezon, said the dire situation of around 800 passengers was immediately responded to by the PPA.
"Three shipping lines, namely two Starhorse, Montenegro, and M Kristina will accommodate the passengers bound for Lucena Port. The estimated time of arrival of a Starhorse vessel is 12:45 pm; Montenegro's ETA at 1 p.m.; M Kristina at 2 p.m. and another Starhorse vessel at 2 p.m.," said the PPA-PMO Marinduque/Quezon report, relayed by PPA GM Santiago to the DAILY TRIBUNE.
Further, the said unit also sent tents to serve as shelter for the queueing passengers, as the Port Terminal Building in Balanacan Port in Mogpog can only accommodate 300 waiting passengers.
Also, Santiago said tents from Lucena City in Quezon from PPA were dispatched to accommodate the passengers in the coming days.
"Apparently, shipping lines rerouted their trips to Romblon today since there were not a lot of passengers yesterday (1 January) which was traditionally the day when passenger volume is high. Shipping lines did not expect passenger volume today. That is the problem if they have no online booking. They cannot project passenger volume and have to rely on actual passenger arrival on the day of the trip," Santiago further explained.
Santiago said these vessels plying the Balanacan-Lucena City ports route can only accommodate 100 passengers per trip.
LGU side
Meanwhile, Mogpog Mayor Leo Livelo said upon the report of his staff of the long lines of passengers waiting at the said port, he immediately sent assistance, such as additional tents and drinking water for the passengers.
As of 4 p.m., Livelo said two large vessels arrived and Starhorse Shipping will augment vessels to serve more passengers.
"We are asking for their patience. Vessels are indeed scarce to serve the passenger influx," Mayor Livelo said in a separate interview.
Turnaround time from Balanacan to Lucena City port takes two hours and 45 minutes.
As per Santiago, the situation in Balanacan Port went back to normal as of 5:30 p.m., and "By 6:30 p.m., all passengers will have been cleared already."