Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente on Thursday announced that they have begun issuing new arrival and departure cards for international passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
BI OIC Deputy Commissioner and Port Operations Division (POD) Head Marc Red Mariñas, reported to Morente that the distribution of the cards started last July 1.
The cards are available at the immigration arrival and departure areas of all three terminals of NAIA.
Morente said the POD aims to expedite the distribution of the new cards to different international airports and seaports throughout the country, such as those in Mactan, Clark, Kalibo, Davao, and Zamboanga.
When claiming the cards, travelers have to write their full name, nationality, passport number, contact number, flight/voyage number, purpose of trip, occupation, port of exit/destination, and their address here and abroad.
Morente explained that the old arrival and departure cards were phased out as these failed to provide sufficient information about a traveler who enters or leaves the country.
These cards are essential for border management in different countries as they provide information that cannot be found in travelers’ passports.
Morente said the improvements on the new cards “will have a big impact in the border management efforts of the Bureau.”
“The information that we collect in our arrival and departure cards is vital in improving our alien monitoring and mapping, as well as gathering added information to ensure our departing kababayans’ safety,” he said. — Alyssa Javier/INQUIRER.net Intern
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