Article by:
Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Friday expanded the use of the Online Reservation Assistance System (ORAS) in several ports across the country in time for the influx of travelers during the Holy Week.
In a message to reporters, PPA Spokesperson Eunice Samonte said the ORAS is a standardized reservation system that will allow passengers to book online, compared to having to arrive early, queue, and buy from a ticket window.
“With ORAS, there is certainty; passengers can save time because they can book anytime and anywhere, even from the comfort of their homes. They simply need to arrive at the port before their scheduled trip,” Samonte said.
Passengers can access ORAS by scanning the ORAS QR Code available at the PPA’s social media pages, selecting their preferred trip based on available schedules, and confirming their reservation.
“[Passengers] only need to present their ORAS pass or QR code, similar to a boarding pass at the airport. This makes the entire travel experience faster, more organized, and more convenient for everyone,” Samonte said.
In a separate statement, the PPA said the ORAS is now available in several routes originating from ports of Balanacan, Batangas, Calapan, and Lucena.
Specifically, ORAS is available to passengers who want to book a ferry ticket from Balanacan Port to Lucena Port; from Batangas Port to Port of Abra de Ilog, Calapan, Caticlan, Coron/El Nido in Palawan, Odiongan, Puerto Galera, Romblon/Sibuyan/Roxas City, and Capiz.
It is also available in the Calapan Port to Batangas Port and from Lucena Port to Balanacan, Masbate, and Romblon routes.
For walk-in passengers, senior citizens, or persons with disabilities, there will be help desks placed at these ports to assist them in registering with ORAS.
It also advised passengers to arrive at their designated port of departure early, as the ORAS pass expires three hours before their scheduled departure.
The ORAS is not available in ports where passengers will arrive with their tickets ready, such as those where the ticketing booth is outside the port area.
Likewise, it will not be applicable for passengers who will board a ferry with a vehicle.
“Inaasahan ng PPA na sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalawak ng ORAS, mas magiging mabilis, maayos, at komportable ang karanasan ng mga pasahero sa paglalakbay sa mga pantalan sa buong Pilipinas (The PPA is confident that through the expansion of ORAS, passenger experience in ports across the country will be swifter, more organized, and more comfortable),” it said. (PNA)
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