Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) — Several measures will be implemented at the country’s main gateway to ensure seamless travel for passengers during the Holy Week break, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Thursday.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, MIAA Assistant General Manager Bryan Co said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has committed to deploy a task force to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) starting Saturday.
“There will be around at least 65 to 70 immigration officers that will be redeployed to our NAIA terminals this coming peak season of the Holy Week,” Co said. “We expect them to augment the current immigration officers that are deployed right now across our three different international terminals.”
More immigration counters were also established, he said. In Terminal 3, four booths were added to the existing 26 in the departure area, he noted.
While there is no issue in terms of the number of immigration counters in the other terminals, Co said they have coordinated with the BI to ensure enough personnel are deployed to serve passengers especially during peak hours.
Other airport personnel are also present to manage the lines and make sure that passengers who are about to board will be prioritized, he added.
Airlines were also asked to open their check-in counters earlier so passengers will have enough time to complete the other steps needed before boarding, Co said. The same was implemented in December when there was also an influx of travelers for the holiday season, he noted.
For travelers arriving in the Philippines, Co advised them to fill out online forms and submit all needed documents prior to their departure from their country of origin to lessen the time they have to spend in the airport.
