by PNA
Passengers awaiting boat rides in this port reached some 15,000 as of 6 p. m. Wednesday, the
highest number of travelers registered since Monday this week, officials said.
Batangas Coast Guard commander Lt. Commander Troy Cornelio expects the number of passengers to increase Wednesday evening and Thursday morning considering that offices in both government and the private sector officially closed as of Wednesday afternoon.
To ensure protecting the increasing number of travelers, the PCG, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) had beefed up security measures at the Port of Batangas and at the ports of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Cornelio said.
He said the security alert would remain until after the Holy Week for the anticipated return of thousands of passengers to Metro Manila.
Cornelio said rubber boats of the PCG and K-9 units of the
PNP had been deployed at the ports.
He said “Oplan Ligtas Kwaresma†passenger assistance desks had also been set up near the ticketing booths at the ports.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) announced Wednesday that fares for all motorized bancas bound for Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro would increase starting Thursday because of rising fuel prices.
Marina officials said one-way passenger fare would increase from P230 to P250 while round-trip ticket would jump from P450 to P500 on Maunday Thursday.
Officials also said that promotional fares of all boats arriving and departing in Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City ports would be suspended because of the anticipated volume of influx of passengers and tourists.
Authorities said an estimated 10,000 tourists flock yearly to Puerto Galera’s White Beach, some 130 kilometers south of Metro Manila, during Holy Week.
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