International passenger traffic during the Christmas travel period has exceeded initial projections, with more than 61,000 arrivals recorded across all international ports on Dec. 23.
At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, immigration officers processed 49,176 international arrivals and 61,784 departures on the date, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said in a statement on Christmas Eve.
Nationwide, total international passenger traffic reached 61,658 arrivals and 66,655 departures.
The steady increase in passenger volume reflects heightened holiday travel, the BI said, noting that immigration operations remain orderly and manageable with 132 additional immigration officers nationwide, augmented by the activation of mobile immigration counters in high-traffic terminals.
To ensure smooth operations during the holiday rush, the BI has deployed Immigration personnel assigned to frontline operations. They were also not allowed to go on leave for the duration of the holiday season to maintain adequate manpower.
The bureau likewise said the continued use of electronic gates (e-gates) has helped decongest immigration counters, contributing to faster processing times.
With the increased passenger volume, the BI reminded all international travelers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled departure to allow sufficient time for airline, security, and immigration procedures.
It assured the public that it remains fully prepared to handle the holiday surge and is committed to ensuring secure, efficient, and passenger-friendly immigration services throughout the Christmas and New Year period. (PNA)