Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) — Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said airport personnel are on full alert ahead of the Holy Week rush.
In a media briefing on Thursday, Monreal said 90 people will help manage long lines at immigration counters.
He said there will be no leaves of absence among airport personnel next week.
Monreal said K9 units and additional police will be deployed to boost security, while help desks will be set up to ensure passenger convenience.
On Wednesday, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente denied claims of lack of Immigration officers at the airport, saying long lines are normal during peak season.
A number of Immigration officers are on leave supposedly due to the scrapping of their overtime pay.
Read: BI dealing with lack of personnel amid overtime pay issue
Monreal said 30 more Immigration officers will be deployed during Holy Week, while more than 800 new personnel are expected within five months.
In a separate interview with CNN Philippines’ Balitaan, Morente said hundreds of Immigration employees may resign from the already understaffed bureau if the government fails to augment their salaries.
He disclosed that 34 employees have already resigned.
Read: Immigration commissioner: Hundreds of employees preparing to leave bureau
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director General Skee Tamayo also said on Thursday that they are studying enforcing the electronic gadget ban imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom.
Last March, both the U.S. and U.K. imposed a ban on electronic gadgets larger than a cellphone to be used in direct flights from certain African and Middle-Eastern countries as an anti-terrorism measure.
Read: Electronics banned from cabins on some Middle Eastern and African flights to U.S.
Tamayo said the ban could eventually be an industry standard, but still needs to be discussed further.
For any concerns and inquiries, the MIAA can be reached through its hotline, 877-1111.
CNN Philippines’ Digital Producers Ver Marcelo and Amanda Lingao contributed to this report.
