PCG begins 5-day heightened alert tomorrow for Undas 2026

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will be on heightened alert starting tomorrow until Nov. 3, amid the expected influx of passengers as the country marks All Saints’and All Souls’ Days.

In a radio interview, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said passengers this year are expected to reach two million, higher than last year’s total of 1.5 million.

“To ensure the safety and security of our passengers, we will be placing all our Coast Guard security units nationwide in heightened alert status from Oct. 29 until Nov. 3,” Cayabyab said.

She said at least 17,000 PCG personnel will be deployed nationwide.

“We will set up passenger assistance desks. If someone has a question, we will be able to answer. And in case of any medical assistance, we will be able to respond,” Cayabyab added.

She said the PCG will have strict departure inspections and would ensure that there will be no overloading of ships.

Cayabyab added that K-9 dogs would be deployed to assist in the baggage inspection.

Lifeguards will be deployed to ensure the safety of tourists.

Over 72,000 police officers are securing Undas in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, PCG and other stakeholders.

To ensure that all police personnel are available for deployment, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will go on full alert status from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

On the directive of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., police commanders have strengthened patrols along major highways, accident-prone roads and routes leading to cemeteries and transportation hubs.

Nartatez ordered police chiefs to coordinate with local government units and traffic authorities, as well as increase visibility along major travel routes.

2 million at North Cemetery

Around two million people are expected to visit the Manila North Cemetery, its director, Daniel Tan, said.

“For Undas, we expect this whole week, more or less, we will reach two million,” Tan told GMA News.

Today is the last day of interment, and all types of vehicles will be prohibited from entering the cemetery tomorrow till Monday.

Provincial bus trips

The provincial bus trips for the anticipated long weekend is enough, Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) executive director Alex Yague said.

Yague said there are a lot of vacant seats, noting that 1,100 buses were issued with special permits to operate beyond their routes.

“The buses right now have a lot of vacant seats. Just in case passengers will flock, there are a lot of buses that were issued special permits,” Yague told The STAR.

He noted they are expecting a lot of passengers going to provinces due to the better weather conditions compared to last year.

Yague advised the public to book their tickets online. –  Emmanuel Tupas, Josiah Antonio, Rhodina Villanueva