Govt signs deal to help ease immigration queues at NAIA

Passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may soon see shorter lines at immigration counters following a new agreement between the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Included in the signed memorandum of agreement is a deal to fund the overtime pay, honoraria, and other related expenses of immigration officers during peak season. DOTr Senior Undersecretary Atty. Giovanni Lopez stated that it also aims to reduce congestion at immigration counters.

“Secretary Vince asked us to find a solution. He spoke with GM Eric and asked if we could fund this legally so we can help our colleagues at the Bureau of Immigration,” Lopez said in Filipino.

MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Ines said that around P5 million per month is initially allocated for the program, although the final amount may still change pending further review by a technical working group.

The MIAA will tap into a portion of authorized airport collections to fund the Immigration Service Charge (ISC), to be disbursed as overtime pay or honoraria based on rates set by the Civil Service Commission and other applicable regulations.

Immigration chief Joel Viado, on the other hand, noted that the agreement supports their goal of keeping immigration counters fully manned, especially as international arrivals continue to rise.

“Our aim is to keep all immigration counters fully staffed, complemented by the government’s program to acquire e-gates,” Viado said.

According to Viado, the BI recently hired 50 additional immigration officers, bringing the total assigned to NAIA to over 200. However, Viado said the bureau still needs to hire at least 100 more within the year.

He also confirmed that more electronic gates will be installed in 2025, though he assured that no existing BI personnel will be displaced, noting that not all passengers are comfortable using the automated system.

“We always have a personnel to man the gates in case there is a need for assistance… When the number of flights and passengers increases, it’s not just the e-gates that will be in use, we also have to man the immigration counters with our personnel, it goes hand in hand.”