Marcos Urges Safe Travel as Millions Expected for Undas Holiday

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a video message on Friday, October 30, 2026, reminding the public to plan their trips and check traffic and route advisories ahead of the Undas holiday. He advised those using public transport to arrive early at terminals and buy tickets in advance, while urging online ticket users to avoid long queues.

Marcos also warned travelers to be careful when carrying and lighting candles and to follow cemetery rules while cooperating with authorities. He stressed that government agency hotlines, including 911 for emergencies, remain open, and official pages of the DOT, DPWH, DOH, MMDA, PNP and BFP will share important information.

“Be careful in carrying and lighting candles. Follow cemetery rules and cooperate with our authorities. And above all, be careful in your travel.”

The Department of Transportation and other agencies have conducted extensive inspections at airports, seaports and bus terminals to ensure passenger safety. Road repairs and maintenance on major highways are continuing to prevent travel disruptions, with urgent fixes set to be completed to reduce traffic congestion during the holiday influx.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued more than 1,000 special permits for additional buses, while the Maritime Industry Authority granted relaxation orders and special permits from October 29 to November 3, 2026. Marcos ordered airport authorities to keep all immigration counters open to speed up processing for arriving and departing passengers.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said authorities are monitoring drivers' well-being and conducting random drug tests during bus terminal inspections, noting that the number of drivers testing positive for drug use has decreased compared with previous years.

The New NAIA Infra Corp. expects more than 1.2 million passengers at the airport from October 27 to November 4. The Office for Transportation Security canceled the vacation leaves of 2,529 security screening officers nationwide to ensure enough personnel for passenger checks.

Philippine Ports Authority spokesperson Eunice Samonte said passenger traffic at major ports remained manageable as of Friday morning, with no fully booked trips recorded yet. The PPA expects around 1.93 million passengers for Undas 2026.