The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has requested the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for additional space to put up more counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals to accommodate the growing number of arriving and departing passengers at the country’s premier airport.
Immigration Deputy Commissioner Daniel Laogan said the limited immigration space allotted to the bureau has led to long lines at the arrival and departure areas at the NAIA.
Laogan said the BI needed a wider space and more immigration counters to address long passenger queues at the immigration areas.
The BI deputy commissioner said the surge in arriving and departing passengers at the NAIA has increased to 10 percent.
“The daily departure and arrival count at NAIA Terminals has doubled from 30,000 to almost 60,000 daily,” he said, adding “to accommodate this influx of travelers, additional space should be given to ensure smooth and hassle free immigration service.”
He said the deployment of approximately 150 new immigration officers to various international airports, with an additional 59 officers, is expected to hasten the processing of travel documents to the arriving and departing passengers.
Laogan said the bureau has already requested the airport authorities to construct additional counters to accommodate the growing passengers at the airport.
He also added that the MIAA intends to establish a separate departure area dedicated to overseas Filipino workers, diplomats, and passengers requiring special assistance. Vito Barcelo