NAIA breaks record with 161K passengers in Christmas exodus

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) logged a record-high 161,000 passengers on Saturday, more than its projected number of travelers days before Christmas.

In Joseph Morong’s Monday report on 24 Oras, passenger Rolando Macalisang said he was going home to Zamboanga to see his mother and two kids for the first time in three years.

Fellow passengers Angela Ronquillo and her sibling will also visit their family in Zamboanga for eight days.

Meanwhile, Kate Limpoco chose to travel on Monday to avoid the influx of passengers. She will be going to Dumaguete City along with her family to celebrate Christmas.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), there are more passengers in this period  compared to last year.

Of the 161,000 passengers, 81,683 were domestic travelers.

The numbers just slightly decreased on Sunday.

“Leaving Manila to the provinces, ito yung marami. Yung bulk ng passengers should have left already but we’re still waiting and trying to see, on the 23rd if there will be movement pa rin,” said MIAA spokesperson Jeff David.

(The many passengers from Manila to the provinces. The bulk ng passengers should have left already but we’re still waiting and trying to see on the 23rd if there will still be movement.)

The influx of passengers was observed at NAIA Terminals 2 and 3.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it deployed more than 30 immigration personnel to ease the long lines at the airport. Mobile counters and additional personnel are also on standby.

Unlike before, Immigration personnel were allowed to greet travelers a “Merry Christmas”, but they were reminded not to receive or ask gifts.

In a Saksi report, MIAA said the number of passengers is expected to reach 156,000 by Dec. 22. 

About 152,000 passengers are expected in NAIA today, less compared to the weekends.

Holiday rush observed in terminals

In Oscar Oida’s report, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX)  logged 183,000 passengers as of 6 p.m.

Most buses to the Bicol Region were fully booked.

Koryln Calbasa, PITX senior corporate affairs officer, said the fully booked trips are advanced bookings, but walk-ins are still available.

PITX also recorded the most number of passengers last December 23, 2023, with more than 204,000 people.

Meanwhile, Chino Gaston reported that traffic is light along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) as of Monday evening.

According to the North Luzon Express Way Corporation, most of the motorists already traveled from Thursday to Sunday, but a number of vehicles are still expected to travel until Christmas Eve.

About 1,500 traffic patrol officers and emergency and medical personnel are deployed from NLEX to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway until January 3.

Free towing is being offered to Class 1 vehicles starting Tuesday while the Candaba Viaduct is open to ease traffic from Bulacan to Pampanga.

In Batangas Port, passengers queued in long lines to secure tickets as they were not continuously sold as part of efforts to maintain an organized schedule.

On Sunday, the port was temporarily closed after a number of passengers caused disturbance by boarding a ship even though that was not their assigned schedule.

According to Batangas Port Manager Joselito Sinocruz, there were over 26,000 passengers last Sunday.
—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News