BI irons out ops at airport immigration counters ahead of Christmas rush

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that it is already ironing out the operations at the immigration counters in airports to avoid long queues ahead of the Christmas exodus. 

In Dano Tingcungco’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, recent arrival Cyrian Agujo was met with long lines at the immigration counters in the arrivals area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Monday evening. Agujo said that the lines actually began at the airplane’s exit. 

“Pagdating namin, even before reaching the immigration, sobrang daming tao. Tapos ang gulo. People were asking saan ba yung pila,” said Agujo. “Pagdating namin doon, wala naman palang pila doon so we had to go back to the previous end of the line.” 

(When we arrived, even before reaching immigration, there were so many people. And it was chaotic. People were asking where the line was. When we got there, there was apparently no line there so we had to go back to the previous end of the line.) 

It took more than an hour for Agujo to find the proper lane. But when they lined up at the right queue, things went smoothly. 

“...Marami namang immigration officers doon sa mga sinet up nilang makeshift or additional immigration desks,” said Agujo. 

(...There were many immigration officers at the makeshift or additional immigration desks they set up.) 

For its part, the BI said more or less 1,800 passengers from nine flights arrived at the same time in the arrival area. The long queues were worsened by the installation of around 12 e-gates. 

“I think one of the reasons why the area seemed cramped kasi may area doon na ini-install ang ating electronic gates. So nagkaroon po ng space adjustment because of that,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval. 

(I think one of the reasons why the area seemed cramped is because there's an area where our electronic gates are being installed. So there was a space adjustment because of that.) 

“But ideally po within the week or later this week maayos na po ‘yan lahat,” she added. “Proper flow of the passengers is something we are working on and could be solved by the electronic gates.” 

(But ideally, within the week or later this week, all of that will be fixed.Proper flow of the passengers is something we are working on and could be solved by the electronic gates.) 

But Agujo believes that the situation on Monday evening could have been managed if there were personnel guiding passengers to the proper lanes. 

“Yung iba puyat, walang tulog and you cannot expect them to roam around tapos maghahanap pa sila ng tatanungan,” he said. 

(Some were exhausted, haven't slept, and you cannot expect them to roam around and then still have to look for someone to ask.) 

To avoid what happened at NAIA Terminal 1, the BI said that additional personnel will be deployed at the immigration area. 

“Nagfi-field na tayo ngayon ng mga additional personnel para mas maging organized ‘yung ating immigration area kasi nakita natin since it’s a bit cramped because of the space adjustment, kinakailangan din na magkaroon ng assistance from our Immigration personnel para mas maging smooth ‘yung pag-pila ng passengers,” said Sandoval. 

(We are now fielding additional personnel so that our Immigration area will be more organized because we saw that since it’s a bit cramped because of the space adjustment, assistance from our Immigration personnel is also necessary so that the lining up of passengers will be smoother.) 

GMA Integrated News is reaching out to NAIA management for comment on the matter. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News