The Philippine Ports Authority said Tuesday it recorded more than 6.28 million passengers during the recent holiday peak, marking the highest volume in the agency’s 52-year history.
Passenger traffic between Dec. 15, 2025 and Jan. 5, 2026 surpassed the 4.7 million travelers recorded in 2024 and 4.4 million in 2023 in the same period.
PPA general-manager Jay Santiago said the surge resulted from extended school and corporate breaks that provided longer travel windows for students and employees.
A government directive, Memorandum Circular No. 111, s. 2025, boosted traffic by declaring Dec. 29, 2025 and Jan. 2, 2026 as additional non-working days. This allowed more Filipinos to plan extended trips to their home provinces.
“Initially, our estimate was 4.6 million passengers, but because the vacation was longer, many of our countrymen took advantage of the opportunity to return home to the provinces,” Santiago said.
He said the increase reflects growing public confidence in port staff and new facilities.
The highest passenger volumes were concentrated in the Port Management Offices of Panay/Guimaras, Batangas, Mindoro, Bohol and Negros Oriental/Siquijor.
To manage the influx, authorities intensified security screenings and enforced safety regulations, leading to the confiscation of various prohibited items.
“Most of what we confiscated are still bladed items such as scissors, card knives, Swiss knives, bolo knives, and nails. There are also flammable items such as lighters, matches, butane, and gasul,” Santiago said.
The agency said it is preparing for the next peak travel season during Holy Week 2026. Officials said the historic volume underscores the vital role of the nation’s ports in connecting communities and sets a new benchmark for future port operations and public service.
