TRAVELERS have started flocking the terminals Friday afternoon to go home for the holidays.
Based on the monitoring of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), as 12 p.m. Friday, December 21, around 4,893 outbound passengers passed through Negros and Siquijor, with 1,179 recorded in Negros Occidental alone.
The PCG in Iloilo, meanwhile, recorded 11,353 outbound passengers, with 14,548 for Western Visayas.
At the Bredco port in Bacolod City, the PCG, along with the port's guards and personnel from Police Station 2, is strictly implementing their security protocols.
Baggage is being passed through x-ray machines, and passengers are regularly searched for any contraband or deadly weapons.
K-9 units are also patrolling the area and randomly checking the passenger's bags and luggage.
Some passengers are complaining of the strict measures in ports but majority positively welcomed the actions citing their safety.
The PCG also carries out inspections on the ships prior to leaving port, making sure they are not overloaded with passengers and cargo. (TDE)