The Bureau of Immigration predicts that the number of daily departures will increase to 40,000 after the New Year.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that arrivals remain high after Christmas, with as many as 57 thousand arrivals in a day.

After Christmas, the BI processed almost 30,000 departures every day. Throughout December, there were 1.48 million arrivals and 750,000 departures overall.

The BI Chief said they project that the numbers will change after the new year, when OFWs and former Filipinos who came home for the holidays will go back to their work and residences abroad.

So far, no major incidents or concerns have been noted during the bureau's operations during the peak season, said Tansingco.

"We hope the smooth operations continue until the new year, when most of those who celebrated Christmas here go back home," he added.