International passenger traffic during the Christmas travel period exceeded projections, with more than 61,000 arrivals recorded nationwide on December 23, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
At Ninoy Aquino International Airport, immigration officers processed 49,176 arrivals and 61,784 departures, while total nationwide traffic reached 61,658 arrivals and 66,655 departures.
The BI said the surge reflects heightened holiday travel but stressed that operations remain orderly, with only slight queues during peak hours.
To manage the volume, the agency deployed 132 additional immigration officers, activated mobile counters at busy terminals, and suspended leave for frontline personnel.
The continued use of electronic gates also helped decongest counters and speed up processing.
The BI advised travelers to arrive at airports at least three hours before departure and assured the public it is fully prepared to handle the holiday rush with secure and efficient services.IMT
