Passenger volume at Philippine ports fell 22% during Holy Week 2026, the Philippine Ports Authority reported, amid higher fares and fewer trips. The PPA counted 1.89 million passengers from March 29 to April 5, down from 2.41 million a year earlier. The Philippine Coast Guard, however, logged 3.4 million sea travelers, exceeding last year's 3 million.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported 1.89 million passengers across its operated ports from Palm Sunday on March 29 to Easter Sunday on April 5, with records ending at 6 p.m. on the final day. This marked a 22% decline from 2.41 million the previous year.
Peak traffic occurred on Holy Wednesday, April 1, with 314,143 passengers—well below last year's 386,026. No day exceeded prior-year figures, the PPA noted. The volume missed the agency's 2.46 million projection, set before US-Israel strikes on Iran disrupted markets and raised fares for shipping lines.
PPA spokesperson Eunice Samonte said, “This projection was made before Semana Santa based on the trend of PPA’s yearly passenger figures.”
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) counted 3.4 million sea passengers under “Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2026,” from March 28 to April 5. PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stated this topped 2025's 3 million. On Easter Sunday alone, there were 219,297 outbound and 189,629 inbound passengers nationwide. Busiest ports included Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan, Batangas, and Oriental Mindoro.
At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), 2,657,810 passengers passed through from March 22 to April 5, surpassing last year's 2,584,307 but falling short of a 3 million forecast.
