Christmas Eve rush packs terminals, ports

Many travelers continued to rush at bus terminals, seaports, airports, as well as expressways on Christmas Eve on Wednesday.

Heavy crowds and limited buses were reported at several bus terminals in Quezon City, according to a report by Super Radyo dzBB’s Allan Gatus on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

Bus terminals along EDSA–Cubao were packed with passengers heading to provinces, particularly Bicol, including Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

At the Genesis terminal, long lines were seen as many bus units had already left.

Passengers bound for Lucena City in Quezon Province also queued for trips amid reported minor delays due to high passenger volume at the Jac Liner terminal.

At Ceres terminal, many travelers waiting for trips to Iloilo, Dumaguete, and Zamboanga were told some of them may spend Noche Buena on the road due to the two- to three-day travel time to their destinations.

Terminal management said bus operations remain continuous, but there are delays due to the limited number of buses allowed on Ro-Ro vessels.

Despite their early departure, some motorists were still stuck in traffic congestion in several sections of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Tuesday evening, GMA Integrated News’ James Agustin reported Wednesday.

Past 10 p.m. on Tuesday, vehicles slowed down on the northbound lane after the Balintawak Toll Plaza up to the NLEX Harbor Link Interchange. Heavy traffic was also observed from Meycauayan to Marilao, Bulacan.

Traffic remained heavy past midnight, with bumper-to-bumper conditions reported around 1 a.m. along the southbound lane from Marilao to Meycauayan and at the Balintawak exit. 

Some motorists said they chose to travel early to avoid traffic.

Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the traffic at the Balintawak Toll Plaza already eased, with minor queues seen at cash lanes.

As of past 6 a.m., traffic conditions had significantly improved, with smooth movement observed at the toll plaza, according to the television news report.

For seaports, the Batangas Port management clarified the temporary delay in ticket issuance amid the surge of passengers, citing limited available seats on vessels and the strict passenger limits enforced by the Philippine Coast Guard, Unang Balita reported.

According to the port manager, walk-in passengers may only be accommodated as chance passengers if there are no-show passengers.

Travelers were advised to book their tickets in advance to avoid inconvenience.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has approved the request of Asian Terminals Incorporated (ATI) to increase the passenger terminal fee at Batangas Port starting in 2026. 

The adjustment will be implemented in two phases: from P30 to ?60 on January 1, 2026 and from P60 to P90 in July 2026. 

The terminal fee applies only to outbound passengers, with exemptions remaining for select sectors.

ATI said the increase is part of efforts to recover costs from the modernization of Batangas Port from 2022 to 2024.

For airports, passenger movement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) remained smooth on Christmas Eve with no long lines reported at check-in counters and immigration lanes across terminals, according to a report by Bam Alegre.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said around 170,000 passengers passed through NAIA on Tuesday across Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

At Terminal 3, travelers reported a hassle-free experience with queues moving efficiently from check-in to immigration. 

Some passengers said they arrived early at the airport to avoid inconvenience.

Passengers going to Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro expressed relief and excitement as they will travel home to celebrate Christmas with their families. —VAL, GMA Integrated News