The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced preparations for the anticipated surge in international travelers over the ‘Undas’ holiday season.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado shared that they are expecting a significant uptick in international travel, with projected daily departures between 43,000 to 48,000 passengers from October 31 while daily arrivals are forecasted at 41,000 to 47,000.
Records show that last year’s undas season saw an average of around 37,000 for departures and 36,000 for arrivals.
Viado said that the BI is gearing up for the peak season by deploying 58 new immigration officers, who graduated last October 29.
“We have ramped up our operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with additional personnel to maintain a smooth flow of passengers,” said Viado. “Our team is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the public receives efficient, reliable service,” he added.
In addition to the new officers, the BI is deploying personnel from its main office to support airport operations.
As a regular practice, applications for leave of frontline officers are denied during the peak season to ensure full deployment capacity.
“We are also activating our rapid response units to address any sudden increases in passenger traffic, particularly during peak hours,” the BI Chief said.
