Philippines prepares for surge in sea travelers during Undas holidays

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) are preparing for a significant increase in maritime travel during the upcoming All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day period, known as Undas.

The PCG has raised its alert status under 'Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2026,' anticipating between 1.5 million and 2 million sea travelers from October 29 to November 3. To manage this, all 17 Coast Guard Districts will intensify safety and security operations, including vessel inspections to prevent overloading, maritime patrols, and the deployment of medical and emergency response teams.

Simultaneously, the PPA has relaunched its in-house Online Reservation Assistance System (ORAS). Passengers can begin booking reservations starting October 24 for travel occurring between October 28 and November 4. The system is designed to reduce physical queuing and overcrowding at terminals by allowing travelers to secure scheduled slots in advance. The PPA expects passenger traffic to reach approximately 1.935 million during this period.