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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI braces for influx of foreign tourists

BI braces for influx of foreign tourists

Published Feb 1, 2022 01:51 pm

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is preparing for the influx of international passengers following the government’s decision to reopen the country to foreign tourists starting February 10.

(Photo from Unsplash)

“We are ready and we have the available manpower to address the expected increase in passenger volume in our airports,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Morente also reported a sharp decline in the number of immigration officers infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

He said that as of Monday, 401 BI personnel, most of them assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), who have gone on isolation and quarantine have already returned to work.

“We continue to operate at full capacity in the airports as we anticipate an increase in international flights and passengers in the next few weeks,” the BI chief added.

Lawyer Carlos Capulong, BI port operations chief, said that as of Jan. 31 only 23 immigration officers assigned in the airports are still recovering from Covid-19.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases said fully vaccinated foreign tourists may now enter the country for 30 days without a visa as cases nationwide continued to decline in recent weeks.

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