Immigration to deploy over 40 officers to airports for Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that over 40 additional immigration officers will be deployed to the Philippines’ international airports in anticipation of the Holy Week travel surge.

In a media forum on Thursday, April 10, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau expects a significant increase in the volume of travelers during the holiday period.

“Meron na tayong idedeploy na additional 40 plus immigration officers doon po sa area to augment ‘yung mga tauhan po natin (We will be deploying more than 40 additional immigration officers to the area to augment our personnel there),” Sandoval said. 

Sandoval also said that the BI has set up a special section for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to streamline their immigration procedures.

“It's going to be convenient for both parties, regular tourists, as well as the OFWs,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said it is prepared for the expected influx of passengers for the Holy Week. 

CAAP Spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the agency will also deploy additional personnel across 44 airports in the country. 

"Wala nga hong mga leave at cancel muna ngayon para masilbihan lahat ng pangangailangan ng ating mga pasahero (Leaves have been canceled for now so we can serve all the needs of our passengers)," Apolonio said, according to a report by ABS-CBN News. 

Holy Week, observed by the predominantly Catholic population in the country, will begin on Palm Sunday (April 13) and end on Easter Sunday (April 20).