Sea travel in the Philippines seen beating pre-Covid level in 2025

Passenger volume going through local seaports is expected to surpass the prepandemic level by 2025 amid the momentum of sea travel demand and expansion of terminals, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The ports regulator, in an interview with the Inquirer, said that passenger traffic is estimated to reach over 85.4 million next year.

Achieving this projection will exceed the traffic in 2019, or prior to the pandemic when mobility was curtailed. Back then, passenger volume reached 83.72 million.

The figures dropped to 24.89 million in 2020 as shipping operations were limited to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The maritime sector has been restoring its activities since the lifting of the pandemic lockdown. In fact, passenger volume rose to 73.64 million in 2023, though still below the prepandemic level.

In January to September, PPA saw passenger traffic grow by 10 percent to 60.47 million from 54.83 million in the same period a year ago. Most of the volume was recorded in Visayas with 30 million passengers, followed by southern Luzon with 15.73 million passengers.

“Government initiatives promoting domestic travel and improvements in passenger facilities at the ports will continue to bolster the upward trend in passenger footprints,” PPA said.

The PPA is in the process of developing a master plan to establish 10 seaports across the country to improve connectivity and supply chain.

These terminals are located in Davila, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Taytay, Palawan; Buenavista, Guimaras; San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Lazi, Siquijor; Catbalogan, Samar; Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur; and Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands.

In addition, the agency has started engaging consultancy services for the feasibility studies of 14 big-ticket port projects, which are targeted to be completed by 2028.

These include Port Capinpin Expansion project in Orion, Bataan; Currimao Port Expansion and Restoration project; Tapal Port Expansion in Ubay, Bohol; New Port Development projects in Lavezares, Northern Samar; and upgrading of general cargo berth in Davao City Port of Sasa; and expansion of Plaridel Port in Misamis Oriental.

Last month, the ports regulator also issued its invitation to bid for the P351.93-million San Carlos port improvement project in Negros Occidental and the P120.07-million Virac port rehabilitation project in Catanduanes. INQ