Panayam kay Eunice Samonte, spokesperson ng Philippine Ports Authority
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00:00 Update to our Sea Travelers and our country's coast guards.
00:03 Our guest today is Ms. Eunice Samonte,
00:06 the spokesperson of the Philippine Ports Authority.
00:10 Partner Eunice, I know you're busy,
00:15 good afternoon to you.
00:17 Good afternoon to you, partner. I missed you.
00:20 But anyway, we're working here with our coast guards
00:23 because it's peak season this November.
00:28 Yes, I know. Last week, you were busy with the holidays and the wedding.
00:32 Based on your data, how many passengers
00:36 are you expecting to travel
00:38 to the coast after the holidays and the wedding?
00:43 Oh, partner, we have a lot of passengers as we speak
00:49 because the Philippine Ports Authority's forecast
00:51 is 1.4 million passengers.
00:54 That's from October 27 to November 5, 2023.
00:59 But because the barangay and SK elections coincided,
01:03 now, November 3,
01:06 we have 1.2 million passengers.
01:10 That's more than last year
01:13 because our restrictions are more relaxed
01:16 when it comes to travel requirements.
01:18 And because it's the weekend,
01:20 our countrymen are really busy going home
01:23 to vote and visit their loved ones.
01:27 So that's our update on the number of passengers.
01:31 Eunice, what ports in the country
01:33 have been visited by passengers this long weekend holiday?
01:37 And how was this managed by the Philippine Ports Authority?
01:40 Among the most visited ports,
01:44 Batangas Port is the most visited.
01:47 Actually, it already surpassed Iloilo Port last year
01:51 with the most people.
01:52 The first one is Batangas Port.
01:55 The second is Port of Calapanate,
01:57 which is one of our biggest passenger terminals.
02:00 And then there's also PMO Negros, Bacolod.
02:03 There's also Siquijor and Bohol.
02:07 Those are the ports that are playing in our top five.
02:10 And that's how many people we're expecting.
02:14 Actually, 500,000 more
02:17 until November 5 at home.
02:20 But if you say there's 1.3 million
02:24 that have been visited,
02:26 is that less than what we're expecting
02:29 from today until the weekend?
02:31 If 1.4 million is the total number of people
02:35 that will travel to our ports.
02:37 Is my math correct, Eunice?
02:39 Okay, partner.
02:41 We're expecting 1.4 million passengers.
02:45 But as we speak,
02:46 by November 3, we already have 1.2 million passengers
02:50 in our ports.
02:52 We're expecting more, actually,
02:54 compared to the past years.
02:56 The numbers in our forecast
02:59 are more than what we're expecting now.
03:03 Because our forecast
03:05 was actually until November 5.
03:07 But now, November 3,
03:08 we already have around 1.2 million.
03:11 So, we'll have more people going home
03:13 and using our ports in the next few days.
03:15 Actually, later on Friday.
03:17 And then, Saturday and Sunday,
03:18 we're really expecting more passengers.
03:21 So, we're expecting more than what we forecast,
03:24 1.4 million.
03:26 Have you received a report
03:29 of the delay in the travel of the Undas and Halalan?
03:32 If so, what are the reasons
03:34 and how did you solve this?
03:36 Like we always mention
03:39 when we call for the shooting lines,
03:42 we hope to do the maintenance
03:44 of the ships before the peak season.
03:47 And you're right,
03:48 we have some delays in our travel,
03:50 particularly in Agusan
03:52 and in our Port of San Carlos in Bacolod.
03:56 We have a ship that had technical difficulties,
04:01 technical failure.
04:03 That's why we had some stranded passengers.
04:06 But it didn't take long
04:08 because they already sent
04:10 replacement ships.
04:12 So, basically,
04:13 there are no more stranded now.
04:15 But the Philippine Ports Authority,
04:17 because the passengers are stranded in the port,
04:21 gave us a loan
04:23 and hot meals to our fellow countrymen.
04:26 For our fellow countrymen
04:28 who will travel this weekend,
04:29 what are the prohibitions
04:31 that passengers are allowed to bring to the ports?
04:34 All the prohibitions,
04:37 of course, are the flammable materials
04:39 because we still have fellow countrymen
04:41 who bring gas and butane
04:44 when they travel
04:45 because they might go on a picnic
04:47 or cook.
04:48 So, of course,
04:49 including their picnic,
04:50 the gas, the knife,
04:52 those are the things we usually bring.
04:56 And of course,
04:58 the things that we can throw away,
05:01 and we already know that,
05:02 even the lighters.
05:04 It is also prohibited in some provinces
05:07 or LGUs,
05:08 the pork products,
05:10 like the ones that go to Mindoro,
05:13 pork products are prohibited there.
05:15 In Batangas,
05:17 particularly,
05:18 the pork meat,
05:20 the pork sausages,
05:21 are prohibited
05:22 because we have to follow an ordinance
05:25 from Mindoro.
05:26 So, there are some things
05:27 that are posted on this Facebook page
05:29 of the Philippine Ports Authority
05:30 that are prohibited
05:31 in other provinces.
05:33 Isn't there also a prohibition
05:34 for chicken?
05:36 Where is this LGU, Eunice?
05:39 Yes, actually, Professor,
05:40 there are also prohibitions for chicken.
05:43 If I'm not mistaken,
05:44 it's in the Negros Oriental,
05:51 but I'll check.
05:52 This is on our Facebook page.
05:54 We have prohibitions.
05:55 Usually, chicken and pork are prohibited.
05:57 And for others,
05:59 only pork is prohibited.
06:00 So, when it comes to pork,
06:04 this is prohibited in ASF-prone areas.
06:07 You can see it on your screen.
06:09 And other ports,
06:13 like Bohol,
06:14 here in Zamboanga,
06:16 are also prohibited.
06:18 And even in Mindoro,
06:20 chicken is prohibited.
06:21 You mentioned it, partner.
06:23 Thank you very much.
06:24 As a final message,
06:26 that's all for our fellow countrymen
06:28 who are returning
06:29 to their vacation units.
06:32 Do you have a message
06:36 for our fellow countrymen
06:37 who are returning?
06:38 Just a reminder to our fellow countrymen.
06:41 Just a reminder to our fellow countrymen,
06:49 let's not bring too many things,
06:51 especially those who are returning to Manila
06:54 because we have X-ray machines.
06:57 We will really go through all of your things there.
07:00 And let's not be lazy
07:03 in booking your trips.
07:06 So, if possible,
07:07 book your vehicles early
07:11 to avoid hassle.
07:13 And just a reminder,
07:14 it's better if they go earlier,
07:17 at least 2-5 hours earlier
07:19 on their trip.
07:21 Because it's possible that traffic
07:24 will go to the port
07:26 because that's what we expect
07:27 when people return.
07:29 So, we're expecting a lot of passengers
07:32 starting on Friday,
07:33 later on Saturday,
07:35 and Sunday.
07:36 So, it's possible that they won't
07:39 catch up on their trip.
07:40 Those are what we call
07:41 chance passengers.
07:43 It's better if they book
07:45 ahead of time.
07:46 Thank you so much, partner.
07:49 I hope to see you next week.
07:51 Thank you for your time.
07:52 I know you're very busy.
07:54 We have a guest,
07:55 Eunice Samonte,
07:57 the spokesperson
07:58 of the Philippine Ports Authority.