Cheyenne Suarez

Hundreds expected at Manila North Port amid holiday exodus

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Four days ahead of Christmas, Manila North Port is anticipating around 700 passengers flocking there on Saturday afternoon for sea trips to General Santos and Davao City.</p><p>These travelers are among the 4.5 million passengers set to travel through ports around the country this holiday season, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).</p><p>Passengers began arriving at the port as early as dawn for the 2 p.m. departure.</p><p>Gloria Tehano, 52, was seen sleeping in the waiting area. She arrived at the port at 2 a.m., 12 hours before the ship’s scheduled departure.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/20/mga-biyahe-ng-barko-fully-booked-na-1936">RELATED: Mga biyahe ng barko sa Manila North Port fully-booked na</a></div><p>Tehano recently traveled to Mindoro to bring home and bury her late son’s remains and is headed now to General Santos City.</p><p>“No’ng buhay pa siya, nag-ingon siya na uuwi na raw siya, dun (sa Mindoro) na siya papasko. Yun ang paalam niya sa mga tao sa amin. Tapos gusto ng mga kapatid niya na doon siya ilibing dahil doon talaga kami,” Tehano said.</p><p>(When he was still alive, he said he was going to go home to Mindoro and spend Christmas there. That’s what he told everyone. His siblings wanted him to be buried there because that’s where we live).</p><p>Mario Malinao, 35, another passenger from Pangasinan, came to the port at 4 p.m. on Friday to make sure he won’t miss his wife’s birthday during the holidays.</p><p>“Medyo mahirap, tsaka nakakainip maghintay. Di ka makakatulog nang maayos tas maingay pero okay naman. Malinis naman ang CR tsaka maraming bantay,” Malinao said.</p><p>(It’s a bit tough waiting [for the ship’s arrival]. You can’t sleep properly and it’s noisy, but it’s okay. The restroom is clean, and there are plenty of security guards).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/21/dozens-of-bicol-trips-at-pitx-delayed-due-to-camsur-traffic-mess-1003">RELATED: Dozens of Bicol trips at PITX delayed due to CamSur traffic mess</a></div><div><strong>NEW FACILITIES AT NORTH PORT</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/37iHgyzzdg4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><p>On Friday, Manila North Port showcased its newly renovated facilities, including a nursing room, prayer room, and x-ray machines.</p><p>Tightened security measures were put in place as passengers started to arrive, according to the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.</p><p>“Dagsa ang mga tao mamaya kaya paalala ng duty Maritime Police ang pinagbabawal na dadalhin nila yung mga weapons gaya ng mga kutsilyo at mga flammable na object,” PSSG Alvin Ambre of the PNP Maritime Group said.</p><p>(There will be a huge crowd later, so the Maritime Police on duty reminds everyone that bringing weapons like knives and flammable objects is prohibited).</p><p>To avoid delays during the holiday rush, PPA urged travelers to book tickets early and arrive at the port three to four hours before departure. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/808zK-PnaFs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>These travelers are among the 4.5 million passengers set to travel through ports around the country this holiday season, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).</p>

These travelers are among the 4.5 million passengers set to travel through ports around the country this holiday season, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).