By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The number of passengers returning home to the Western Visayas are beginning to increase, six days ahead of Christmas Day.

In a TV Patrol Negros report, Weesam Express operator Frank Carbon said fastcraft and Roll-on/Roll-off vessels heading for Iloilo City and Dumangas have reported 70 to 80 percent loading capacities over the past few days.

He said they are expecting full capacity for all vessels by Friday, when the long Christmas break begins.

Carbon added, travelers do not have to worry about the availability of trips since there is a vessel leaving Bacolod City every 30 minutes.

Last week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Occidental began monitoring the number of passengers entering local ports.

PCG-Bacolod Station commander, Lieutenant Commander Ludovico Librilla, said the PCG “Oplan: Byaheng Ayos Pasko 2018” will run until January 5 of next year./DGB, WDJ