More immigration officers deployed in NAIA for Holy Week break

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration has deployed additional officers in immigration counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, helping shorten queues on Tuesday, April 15, amid the expected Holy Week exodus.

BI Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac said there will be a back-up of 48 immigration officers to boost the work of 55 personnel manning immigration counters. Of the 55, 11 personnel have been designated at the new OFW wing in Terminal 3.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the additional personnel will start working 30 minutes even before the peak hours, or from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

In an inspection on early Tuesday morning, Dizon noted there were “no lines” building up in immigration around 5 a.m. — a stark contrast from the situation he saw on April 10.

“Makakaasa ang mga kababayan natin, itong cooperation, tuloy-tuloy ito, para hindi lang pang-Holy Week ito,” Dizon told reporters. “Kailangan araw-araw ganito and we will even continue to improve this.”

[Translation: Fellow Filipinos would expect continued cooperation on this so that this will not only be during the Holy Week. This situation should always be seen daily and we will even continue to improve this.]

Dizon also said the immigration counters exclusive for overseas Filipino workers helped decongest passengers passing through checkpoints in Terminal 3.

Asked why the move was only recently implemented, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said: “Actually dahil sa masinsinang pag-uusap rin po namin ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) kaya ito na-implement… We have to consult other agencies. Hindi lang iisang ahensya ang makakapagbigay o makakatugon sa problema sa pagbigay ng solusyon.”

[Translation: It was implemented after a thorough discussion with the DOTr. We have to consult other agencies. It’s not only one agency who can solve a problem.]

Viado added there’s a plan to digitize and modernize immigration procedures to make the travel experience convenient.

New NAIA Infra Corp., the airport’s private operator, is expecting over 1.18 million travelers during the Holy Week break. The firm said Holy Tuesday might have the “lightest traffic.” 

There were 293,071 passengers in the airport from Palm Sunday to Holy Monday, higher than last year’s 259.141, data from the Manila International Airport Authority showed.