PCG heightens alert for Holy Week sea travel safety

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is implementing a heightened alert status from Palm Sunday, April 13, to Easter Sunday, April 20, to ensure the safety of sea travelers and ports during Holy Week 2025.

This heightened alert is part of the PCG's Oplan Biyaheng Ayos, aiming to secure passengers and monitor for potential criminal activities.

The PCG will deploy 17,000 officers to safeguard sea travels, a significant increase in personnel compared to previous years.

They will coordinate with the maritime offices of the Transportation department to prevent maritime incidents and casualties.

The PCG will conduct round-the-clock monitoring of sea lanes and deploy K-9 units and security teams at seaports, including vessel inspections.

The Philippine Ports Authority expects 1.73 million passengers, a 3.5% increase from last year, presenting challenges like overcrowding and heightened risks of maritime-related crimes.