Hello, beautiful people! Feeling the traffic and Christmas rush yet? I know…

I can feel you, the roads are heavy wherever you may be heading to. It’s a bit annoying, right?

Even booking rides is especially difficult at this time. Have you seen the viral posts from commuters complaining about drivers giving the same reason for not picking them up?

It is really the busiest time of the year. People and goods are moving every minute and every second lost in traffic is a delay in business, in work, in time that could have been spent with the family and loved ones. This is the time when I say calm down, that’s just how it goes. Remember, we are all going somewhere, it pays to be extra kind. Let us all be understanding of one another.

Speaking of the rush, most passengers are preparing for long trips, local or international; immigration lines are longer than usual. Some passengers are looking at another option, which is via the sea.

Yes, sea la vie my darlings! It is about the quiet ride and the stillness of the sea and the sky that calm the heart and the soul during this busiest time of the year.

Talking about sea trips, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reminded us why ports are very crucial in moving things and people all throughout the year 2025. Thanks to the leadership of PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, from January to October this year more than 69 million passengers passed through PPA ports. That is an increase of over five percent from last year.

Ports in Iloilo, Batangas, Jordan, Calapan and Babak topped the list, serving as daily gateways for work, family, and opportunity. For many Filipinos, the port is not a destination, it is a gateway.

There’s also good news on the tourism front from the PPA, as reported by GM Santiago. Cruise travel continues to grow, with over 157,000 cruise passengers recorded from 74 ship calls this year. To make sure tourism growth is inclusive and sustainable, the PPA is developing cruise terminals in Jubang, Alegria, Balbagon, Coron and Catagbacan, bringing tourism closer to local communities, not just the major hubs.

Of course, none of this happens without infrastructure. This year alone, 97 locally funded port projects are underway across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Significant projects have already been completed in places like Romblon, Mauban, Tagbilaran, Estancia, Jordan and Manoc-Manoc, among others. More are nearing completion, from Mati and Malalag to Virac and Jubang, each designed to improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility.

When we talk about ports, we often jump straight to the figures, revenue, tonnage, and passenger counts. Important, yes. But behind every statistic is a Filipino commuting home, a worker earning a living, a business moving goods, a community staying connected. And that, really, is where the story of the Philippine Ports Authority in 2025 begins.

As of 30 October 2025, the PPA generated P24.97 billion in revenue, up by 10.57 percent from last year’s P22.58 billion. That’s not small change! But as PPA general manager Santiago aptly put it, the agency looks beyond the numbers. Behind every port project is the welfare of passengers, workers, and communities who rely on safe, efficient, and reliable port services. And that mindset matters.

On the operational side, ports continue to quietly but steadily power the economy. Container traffic reached over 7.1 million TEUs, while cargo throughput hit 262.8 million metric tons as of October. These are not just indicators of movement; they are signs of a supply chain that continues to operate despite global uncertainties, weather disruptions, and the everyday challenges of an archipelagic country.

Earlier this year in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. captured the bigger picture during the inauguration of the new Port Operations Building. But before the year ends, the President also inaugurated the Port of Banago in Bacolod just last week. It shows that improving port facilities strengthens tourism, attracts business, grows the economy, and ultimately enhances livelihoods. That’s the ripple effect of a well-run port.

GM Santiago echoed this vision, reaffirming the PPA’s alignment with the President’s call for strong infrastructure paired with compassionate governance, making services easier, more efficient, and inclusive for everyone.

So yes, 2025 has been a strong year for the PPA. But more than that, it’s been a year of movement with people, goods, and opportunities flowing through ports that continue to do what they’ve always done best — connect the Philippines as one maritime nation, linking our islands to the world.

Here’s a virtual toast for all the hard work this year! Together, let us learn from the mistakes of the year and hope for the best next year, for we are all in the same boat!

Can’t wait for the following pages to turn… Merry Christmas, folks! Have a meaningful end of the year!