PH Ports Authority warns Holy Week commuters vs. travel insurance scam

As millions of ship passengers are expected to travel this Holy Week, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Tuesday warned passengers against falling victim to travel insurance scammers.

PPA spokesperson Eunice Samonte said two victims, a mother and her child, paid P500 to an individual offering them travel insurance at the Manila North Port Passenger Terminal on Monday.

“May mga hindi natin maiwasan na mga tao na nagbebenta online at mga nagbebenta sa labas ng pantalan ng mga travel insurance. Paalala po natin sa ating mga kababayan, itong travel insurance ay kasama na po sa ticket na inyong binili. Ibig sabihin, hindi na po kailangang magbabayad pa ng additional na anumang halaga para sa travel insurance,” Samonte told GMA Integrated News in a phone interview.

(There are individuals selling travel insurance online, and outside of port areas. May we remind our countrymen that travel insurance is part of the tickets you purchase. That means you don’t need to pay any additional fees for travel insurance.)

Samonte said the peak period of Holy Week travel is likely on Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday, when nearly 300,000 passengers per day are expected at all ports in the country.

Earlier in the day, Samonte told Unang Balita that over 2 million passengers were projected to travel by sea during Holy Week.

Meanwhile, passengers were advised to be at the ports two to three hours before their scheduled departure.

Samonte also advised passengers to avoid bringing items that may be confiscated.

“Hanggang ngayon, may mga nakukumpiska pa tayo na mga kitchen knife at saka po yung mga flammable material, mga gas at butane. ‘Yun po ang pinakakaraniwan nating nakukumpiska. Sana po huwag na pong magdala ng mga ganitong bagay ang ating mga kababayan,” she said.

(Until now, kitchen knives and flammable materials like gas and butane have been confiscated. These are the usual items we confiscate. We ask our countrymen to refrain from bringing these things.)

Travelers were also advised to pack light amid tighter security at all ports.

“Dahil nga mas mahigpit ang seguridad natin sa mga pantalan, mas maigi pa rin po kung kakaunting gamit na lang ‘yung dalhin nila dahil daraan po yang lahat sa X-ray machine at saka po sa matinding screening,” Samonte added.

(Because of heightened security in our ports, it is better to travel light because all belongings will pass through x-ray machines and strict screening.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News