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Philippine Ports Authority directed its 25 port management offices nationwide to ensure all port facilities are ready to address passengers concerns, especially for those whose trips are cancelled by shipping companies due to bad weather
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PMOs conduct regular inspections of their respective facilities to guarantee proper maintenance and good working condition of all their equipment
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Generator sets are in place and charging stations and water refilling stations are also available to passengers free of charge
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is preparing its ports and facilities nationwide for the onset of the rainy season.
PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago has directed the agency’s 25 port management offices (PMOs) to ensure all port facilities are ready to address passengers concerns, especially for those who are affected by trip cancellations by their respective shipping lines due to inclement weather.
“Since passengers’ welfare remains our utmost priority, I instructed all the PMOs to make sure that we are able to immediately cater to the needs and concerns of the passengers,” Santiago said in a statement.
“Mayroon nga po kaming PPA lugaw sa mga pantalan sa buong bansa po yan, para masiguro na may makakain ang mga nag-aantay na pasahero sakali mang magkaroon ng cancellation o delays ang kanilang sinasakyan.”
(We do have PPA porridge at the piers across the country to ensure food for all waiting passengers whose voyages are cancelled or delayed.)
Aside from ensuring functional generator sets for emergency use during power outages, the PMOs also conduct regular inspections within their respective facilities to guarantee proper maintenance and good working condition of all their equipment. Charging stations and water refilling stations are also available for all passengers free of charge.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced the start of the rainy season early this month.
“El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts (such as dry spells and droughts) in some areas of the country. However, an enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) season may also be expected, which may result in above-normal rainfall over the western part of the country,” PAGASA said in a statement.
PPA said that during inclement weather, it works closely with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure passenger safety at the ports. In some instances, these emergency measures include the transporting individuals from ports to evacuation centers.
“Apart from precautionary measures in place at ports during inclement weather, we would also like to ask for understanding from the public at times that queues get longer than expected at ports, since passengers and vessels accumulate within its vicinity when rough seas cause trip cancellations,” Santiago said.
As part of its continuing port development and improvement efforts, PPA has also initiated rehabilitation works on its facilities that had been damaged by strong typhoons.
