MANILA — International passenger traffic during the Christmas season has exceeded initial projections, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported, with over 61,000 arrivals recorded across all international ports on December 23.

At Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), immigration officers processed 49,176 international arrivals and 61,784 departures on the same day. Nationwide, total international arrivals reached 61,658, while departures totaled 66,655.

The BI said the steady increase reflects heightened holiday travel but assured that operations remain orderly and manageable. While some travelers may encounter slight queues during peak hours, processing continues efficiently.

To handle the holiday surge, the BI deployed 132 additional immigration officers nationwide and activated mobile immigration counters in high-traffic terminals. Frontline immigration personnel were also required to remain on duty without leave during the holiday season to maintain adequate manpower.

The bureau noted that the continued use of electronic gates (e-gates) has helped decongest counters and speed up processing.

The BI reminded international travelers to arrive at least three hours before departure to allow time for airline, security, and immigration procedures.

The bureau assured the public that it is fully prepared to maintain secure, efficient, and passenger-friendly immigration services throughout the Christmas and New Year period.