Customs to assign examiners at MCIA

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs will be hiring 40 examiners to be assigned at the Mactan Cebu International Airport because there are no examiners currently assigned at the airport to inspect luggage of arriving tourists.

In a memorandum, BOC district collector Ronnue Silvestre tasked BOC deputy collector for operations Francis Agustin Erpe to conduct a thorough study of the present systems and procedures at the Passenger Services Area at the airport.

Erpe said that one of his recommendations is to hire examiners to be assigned at the airport to enhance the efficiency of Customs service there.

To date, Erpe said there are no examiners at the airport, specifically at the arrival area. He clarified those who are temporarily assigned there are cargo examiners.

“These cargo examiners are doing duties beyond their responsibility because we really do not have examiners assigned at the arrival area,” Erpe said.

There are 15 to 20 international flight arrivals daily at the airport with passengers of more than 2,000.

Erpe said that the x-ray machine at the airport is already antiquated and it bugs down every now and then. —(FREEMAN)