New Year moved millions at ports

Happy New Year, my dear friends!

After the long, cozy stretch of the holidays — I’m talking about days filled with delicious homemade meals, slower mornings, and precious time with the people we love most — we are gently (or not so gently) ushered back to reality. 

The alarms are ringing again, inboxes are filling up, the meals are back to office mode, and yes, we are officially back to work. But before we sigh too deeply, let’s pause and give thanks for the rest we were gifted, the laughter shared, and the work waiting for us — which, at the end of the day, is still a blessing many pray for.

The start of a new year has a funny way of revealing change. Look around the office. Something feels different. Is it the latest clothes? A fresh smile with a new set of teeth? And let’s be honest, many of my officemates had this new — it’s probably the hair! 

I’m guilty myself. New year, new hair, courtesy of Jhens Hair Extension (shoutout to Agatha, Macy and Grace for the glow-up!). Because if there’s one universal truth about January, it’s this: we all want a fresh start. A symbolic snip here, a wardrobe refresh there, and hopefully, a conscious effort to leave behind the unnecessary baggage of last year (negative vibes must all go).

And while personal changes may be subtle or stylish, some changes are felt on a much larger scale. I’m talking about the ones that quietly reflect how Filipinos choose to move, connect, and come home. 

This past holiday season, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) observed a notable shift in travel behavior as millions of Filipinos traveled by sea to reunite with their families. From 15 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, PPA recorded a historic 6,281,052 passengers nationwide, the highest holiday passenger volume since the agency’s establishment in 1974. A new year milestone indeed.

To put things into perspective, passenger traffic in the same period reached only 4.4 million in 2023 and 4.7 million in 2024. This year’s surge was no accident. Extended school and corporate breaks, coupled with long weekends, gave many families the rare luxury of time. 

Malacañang’s Memorandum Circular 111, declaring 29 December 2025 and 2 January 2026 as additional non-working days, further encouraged Filipinos to plan longer trips and make that long-awaited journey back to their home provinces.

Thanks to the early preparations of PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, more Filipinos are choosing to rely on the country’s ports, its facilities, and the dedicated workers who keep operations running safely and efficiently, not to mention, of course, the new world class passenger terminal buildings equipped with new X-ray scanners, complete facilities, and the all gender restroom for all. 

Of course, with increased traffic comes heightened responsibility. Throughout the holiday rush, port authorities stepped up security screening and strictly enforced safety regulations. Among the most commonly confiscated items were bladed objects such as scissors, card knives, Swiss knives, even bolos and nails, as well as flammable materials such as lighters, matches, butane, and gas tanks. These were from passengers for their home use, but of course, they’re not allowed when traveling as they are considered deadly weapons and risks to other passengers. 

While the bells were ringing and fireworks were lighting up the skies, the port frontliners and employees were on duty. This ensured that the holiday journeys remained largely peaceful and incident-free. So, a salute to all the port workers for giving the public a safe and generally peaceful holiday season! 

The highest passenger volumes were recorded at the ports of Panay/Guimaras, followed by Batangas, Mindoro, Bohol and Negros Oriental/Siquijor, which is a clear indicator of how vital sea travel is in connecting island communities across the country.

Looking ahead, GM Santiago reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to preparedness. Holiday travel peaks may come and go, but the work continues year-round. Next up is the surge ahead of Holy Week 2026. (It’s just a few weeks away, oh la la!)

As we step into the new year with fresh haircuts, renewed fitness goals, and a little more hope, it’s comforting to know that while many things change, the spirit of coming home remains the same. And for millions of Filipinos, our ports continue to serve not just as passageways, but as bridges that carry stories, reunions, and new beginnings.

We’re thankful for the year 2025, and here’s to embracing change, moving forward safely, and starting the year on air, land, and at sea — for we are all in the same boat.

Change is measurable in statistics (six million passengers, wow!), but its true meaning is found in the millions of journeys home. Happy New Year, folks!