The Coast Guard (CG) District Southern Visayas is enhancing security protocols in the ports of Dumaguete and Siquijor following a chaotic weekend, an official said.

Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of the CG District Southern Visayas, reported that travelers jostled for tickets at the city port en route to Siquijor for a festival in San Juan on Saturday, April 18.

Auro noted that the chaos worsened after a shipping line canceled one of its trips, causing passengers to flock to alternative carriers to purchase tickets.

“I immediately proceeded to Siquijor after having seen the commotion that was caught on video and aired on national television,” Auro told the Philippine News Agency.

He added that he brought personnel from the CG Station Negros Oriental to assist in crowd control efforts and oversee boarding and disembarking procedures at the Siquijor port on Sunday, April 19, to prevent overloading.

Operations at both ports have since returned to normal following the weekend incident.

However, Auro bared that some shipping lines continue to sell tickets over the counter despite a national directive encouraging online purchases to prevent fixers from exploiting the high volume of travelers.

Auro assured the Coast Guard will maintain a consistent presence at ports and coastal regions throughout the summer months. (PNA)