BI: Passengers in int’l ports continue to increase amid eased travel curbs

FILE PHOTO: Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manila’s international airport, Philippines, Thursday, January 23, 2020. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said that the number of passengers in the country’s international ports continues to increase since borders were opened after transitioning to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.

“From around 8,000 daily passengers on the first week of implementation of our opened borders, we are now seeing more than 9,000 daily passengers,” said BI port operations chief Carlos Capulong.

“We are expecting this gradual increase as we transition to the new normal,” he added.

Capulong said they project that the figures will increase to 10,000 up to 15,000 daily in the coming months.

Because of this, Capulong said BI operations are now back to the pre-pandemic shifting schedule and 100 percent on-site capacity as the volume of arriving passengers is expected to further swell in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said he had ordered border operations to prepare for the expected increase of international travelers, especially with the upcoming summer season.

“We expect the number of travelers to increase further as the summer season approaches,” he said.

“This is a step towards the much-needed recovery of the tourism industry,” he added.

Metro Manila and 38 other areas in the country were placed on COVID-19 Alert Level 1 until March 15.

Under alert level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel will be allowed regardless of age and comorbidities while all establishments, persons, or activities are permitted to operate, work, or be done at full on-site capacity, provided that health standards are observed.

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