MANILA: In the upcoming holiday season, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) forecast 4.6 million passengers travelling through ports nationwide from Dec 15, 2025 to Jan 5, 2026, the agency said.
“For this year our forecast is about 4.6 million passengers that we will be counting starting today up until Jan 5, 2026. We’re forecasting 4.6 million passengers, compared to last year’s actual (figure of) 4.4 million passengers,” PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago shared in a press briefing on Monday.
According to Santiago, the PPA is expecting an increase of 200,000 to 250,000 more passengers compared to last year’s holiday season.
He then shared the preparations being made by the agency, saying that he is “very confident” on the readiness of the PPA during the peak season.
“‘Our terminals there already know what they’re going to do, unless there’s another typhoon, untoward incidents. Other than that, they’re ready,” Santiago shared.
Santiago also said that the PPA’s security is on heightened alert, and they are in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and force multipliers.
In the case of inclement weather that may cause an influx in stranded passengers and maritime transport vehicles, Santiago detailed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has deployed ready-to-eat foodpacks available in ports.
He added that the Port Management Offices are also prepared to provide food, water and medical assistance as the need arises.
After discussing the preparations the PPA has made ahead of the holiday season, Santiago called on shipping operators and passengers themselves to be ready for the next few weeks.
“What we have been calling for, time and again, is that as the terminals are well prepared for the influx of passengers, we hope that our shipping line operators will also meet the demand by deploying an appropriate and sufficient number of vessels for our countrymen,” Santiago said.
“On the part of our countrymen, what we are asking is that they plan ahead, buy tickets early, plan their trip early, so that their trip will be smooth and comfortable and so that their Christmas will be happy and not a punishment,” he later added. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
