BI on ‘heightened alert’ during ECQ period

Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — The operations of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is on “heightened alert” as services continue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente assured that its services to the traveling public will remain uninterrupted as they follow their mandate of border control.

“We will continue to operate at full capacity at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to ensure that our services are not hampered and adequate manpower is available to serve passengers arriving and departing at our premiere port,” Morente said in a statement.

Airport personnel, according to Morente, are not covered by the recent Palace directive instructing government offices in Metro Manila to reduce the number of employees in their offices to only 30-50 percent of their operational capacity.

Meanwhile, Atty. Carlos Capulong, BI port operations chief, said that their officers at the airport are always on heightened alert in ensuring that existing restrictions on international travel are observed and only those who are eligible to travel to the Philippines are allowed entry.

Currently, the BI implements a strict travel ban from passengers from 10 countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Passengers who have been to said countries, or have a travel history there within the last 14 days prior to arrival will not be allowed to enter the Philippines.

“We always remind our airport personnel to adhere to minimum health protocols to protect themselves against this virus.  Our duty to the traveling public always comes first, hence we have to make this sacrifice,” Capulong said.

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