Passengers flock to NAIA, ports in Christmas exodus

Passengers have started trooping to the ports and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to travel and be with loved ones less than a week before Christmas.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "Saksi," the Manila International Airport Authority said the NAIA has had about 140,000 to 150,000 daily passengers since Dec. 15.

The number is expected to reach 156,000 by Dec. 22.

At the ports, the Philippine Ports Authority said 4.5 million passengers are expected to flock to port terminals from Dec. 15 to Jan 3.

The North Port Passenger Terminal installed three new x-ray machines to hasten the baggage inspection.

It also finished installing its centralized air conditioning system and fixed other facilities to help passengers, especially pregnant women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, travel with ease.

“Mas mabilis, paglagay po ng bagahe diyan tuloy-tuloy na at makikita po agad ng ating baggage operators kung meron po ba, sa mga bagahe, yung ipinababawal,” said Jen Rebong, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) port manager.

(Inspections will be smoother and faster and our baggage operators can easily see if there are any prohibited items in the baggage.)

Since Jocelyn Sumagaysay expected it would be comfortable in the terminal, she said she could even wait for her departure for nine hours.

“Maaga kami kasi minsan matrapik. Mas maganda maaga,” said Sumagaysay, who is going home in Bacolod City.

(We went here early to avoid traffic. The earlier the better.)

Most of the passengers will be at the Batangas port, where RORE buses to Visayas and Mindanao will pass through.

On the other hand, traffic buildup was observed at the NAIA Terminal 3 departure area. Check-in counters on domestic and international flights also have long lines.

In Vonne Aquino’s report on Saksi, some of them chose to travel on Thursday evening to avoid the influx of passengers on the weekends.

Security inside the terminal also tightened as passengers started to troop the PITX.

According to the PITX administration, more than 160,000 passengers flocked the terminal as of 8 p.m., but seats are still available.

At least 150,000 passengers are expected to flock to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) starting December 20, Friday.