DOTr eyes 150K daily passengers at NAIA for Holy Week 2025

Around 150,000 passengers are expected to troop to terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) everyday throughout the Holy Week exodus, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Sunday. 

Dizon said he has coordinated with San Miguel Corp., which oversees the operations of the country’s main gateway, as well as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), to ensure that the travel experience of passengers at NAIA would be safe, convenient, and smooth sailing. 

“Napakadaming dumadagsa sa ating mga airports ngayon. Sa NAIA lang, baka ine-estimate na aabutin ng 150,000 kada araw ang dadagsa sa ating mga airport na bibyaheng mga kababayan natin,” the Transport chief said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(A lot of people are flocking to our airports now. At NAIA alone, we estimate that 150,000 passengers daily.) 

Dizon said NAIA’s private operator has assigned additional personnel at the check-in counters to manage long queues, and has doubled the driveway lanes to reduce vehicular traffic.  

Restrooms at the NAIA were also fixed to ensure cleanliness and availability. 

Aside from airports, Dizon said all other transportation facilities such as seaports and bus terminals are on high alert this Holy Week. 

PITX, Cubao bus stations

Passengers heading to the provinces for Holy Week by bus are experiencing delays, as buses at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange and Cubao stations are already fully booked.

According to Darlene Cay’s Sunday report on “24 Oras Weekend,” many travelers bound for the Bicol Region said they were forced to postpone their trips due to the lack of available seats.

PITX reported that around 160,000 passengers passed through the terminal on Saturday, with a similar volume expected on Sunday.

“Marami na po yung mga nakapag-advanced booking pero hindi naman po ibig sabihin noon ay wala na po tayong biyahe sa PITX," said Kolyn Calbasa, Senior Officer for Corporate Affairs at PITX. "Marami pa rin naman po available trips dahil nagdagdag po ng mga buses or supply ang mga bus companies.”

(Many passengers booked in advance, but that doesn’t mean we’re fully booked. There are still plenty of available trips, as bus companies have added more units.)

Meanwhile, in Cubao, Quezon City, air-conditioned buses bound for Camarines Norte are fully booked until Black Saturday on April 19.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon reminded terminal operators to maintain clean and well-functioning facilities, especially restrooms.

“Kailangan talaga mag impose ng standards dito. At kung hindi sila mag meet ng standards, either ipapasara ang mga terminal nila o isuspend muna,” Dizon warned.

(We need to impose strict standards. If a terminal fails to meet them, it may face suspension or even closure.)

He also noted that transportation hubs are on heightened alert throughout the Holy Week period.

On Sunday, some travelers arrived several hours early to avoid heavy crowds.

At PITX, routes to Tuguegarao and Olongapo are also filling up fast. However, walk-in passengers may still be able to secure seats.

Meanwhile, the PITX is expecting over two million passengers for Holy Week 2025.

Ports

The Batangas Port on Sunday evening reported some 15,000 departing and 5,000 arriving passengers, with its operator now coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to issue special permits to add more trips and increase their frequency.

“Kung hindi mababawasan ang pasahero ng tatawid papuntang Odiongan, tuloy tuloy ‘yan na parang kulang tayo ng isang barko palagi hanggang Huwebes Santo,” Batangas Port manager Joselito Sinocruz said in a report by Dano Tingcungco on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(If there will not be a decrease in the number of passengers heading to Odiongan, it seems that we will be a ship short until Holy Thursday.)

A number of passengers at the port said they were surprised with the large number of people to Mindoro, Romblon and the Visayas on Sunday.

Some passengers lined up on Sunday so they could get tickets for trips that would be leaving in the afternoon of the following day.

This comes as more passengers are expected later this week, as Malacañang earlier declared April 17, Maundy Thursday, and April 18, Good Friday, as regular holidays, and April 19, Black Saturday, as a special non-working day.

The same situation was reported at the Manila North Port, with heightened security as high alert status was declared across transport facilities around the country.

There were four shipping lines that MARINA did not allow to go on trips during the Holy Week, due to violations such as having no life jackets, and damaged sirens. Officials are now closely monitoring for colorum trips.

“Sana ano, huwag na natin gawin ‘yun kasi very risky ‘yung ganyan, at your own risk po ‘yan sa mga kababayan natin,” DOTr secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon said in a separate report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend.”

“Sinusugal nila ang buhay nila kasi siyempre, unang una, ‘pag ka kolorum, walang insurance ‘yan. Wala silang makukuhang kahit ano kung may mangyari,” he added.

(Hopefully they do not do that because it is very risky, and that is at your own risk for our countrymen. They are gambling with their lives because firstly, colorums do not have insurance. They will not receive anything if something happens.)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) earlier announced that it would be on heightened alert starting April 13, Palm Sunday, until April 20, Easter Sunday, as preparation for the expected exodus of sea travelers to the provinces. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF/DVM/BM, GMA Integrated News