Manila: Measures are in place as airports across the country gear up for the expected influx this holiday season, authorities said on Tuesday. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other major gateways, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deployed additional manpower to help ease congestion.

According to Philippines News Agency, "The BI is ready for the peak travel season. Additional personnel are on duty at major ports of entry," spokesperson Dana Sandoval stated. NAIA now has 673 BI personnel, with 81 secondary officers as backup. Sandoval further mentioned that the total manpower in all ports has reached 957, with 132 secondary officers as backup, ensuring safe, orderly, and efficient processing of passengers.

To further address long queues at NAIA, operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) introduced Immigration electronic gates (e-gates) on Tuesday, allowing passengers to clear immigration in about 20 seconds. The official launch was attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and NNIC president Ramon Ang. The main gateway is expecting 2,553,622 passengers across all NAIA terminals from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

Meanwhile, the 44 commercial airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are on heightened alert. Personnel at help desks are ready to provide assistance, as stated by CAAP information officer Bea Bernardo. CAAP anticipates around 960,000 passengers across its 44 airports during the same period, compared to 895,429 passengers the previous year.