THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) assured that it will facilitate the fast and hassle-free entry of foreign dignitaries and visitors, who will be attending the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this Thursday.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said BI officers at the airport have already been instructed to extend port courtesies to the arriving foreign delegates, and facilitate their expeditious entry into the country.
“We have already put in place the mechanisms and procedures to ensure that these foreign visitors are given priority in the conduct of immigration formalities upon their arrival at the airport,” Morente said.
The BI Chief also bared that immigration officials have participated in meetings that have been done to coordinate the efforts of the various government agencies, in providing security and other arrangements for the arrival and stay of the said foreign dignitaries.
Foremost in these arrangements, he said, is the implementation of fast and easier conduct of customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) formalities for the arriving delegates at the airport.
According to lawyer Carlos Capulong, BI Port Operations Chief, arrangements are already in place for the delegates.
“We have designated special lanes that will cater to these 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 will be arriving on chartered flights,” Capulong said.
He also 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, together with his entourage, arrived Tuesday aboard chartered military aircrafts.
Also expected to arrive today, is the delegation led by China’s Vice President Wang Qishan, which is scheduled to land aboard a chartered plane.
Delegates and dignitaries from ASEAN countries and other nations are also expected to arrive today in preparation for the inauguration on Thursday.
