The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has been conducting hassle-free entry of foreign dignitaries and visitors who will attend the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this Thursday.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said BI officers at the airport have set up procedures to ensure that these foreign visitors are given priority in the conduct of immigration formalities upon their arrival.
Morente said immigration officials have participated in meetings with various government agencies in providing security and other arrangements for the arrival and stay of the said foreign dignitaries.
Foremost of these arrangements are the implementation of fast customs, immigration and quarantine formalities.
BI port operations chief Carlos Capulong said they have designated special lanes that will cater to the foreign delegates, and assigned a team of immigration officers who will conduct remote immigration clearance of the passengers at the airport ramp in case foreign delegates would be arriving on chartered flights.
He disclosed that among the first visitors to arrive was the US delegation headed by Douglas Craig Emhoff, husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, who came with his entourage Tuesday aboard military aircrafts.
Also expected to arrive today is the delegation led by China’s Vice President Wang Qishan on board a chartered plane and dignitaries from ASEAN countries.