One-stop-shop for processing of special chartered flights eyed

FILE: Bureau of Immigration building in Manila. (Photo by Elmer B. Domingo – Own work/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said a recommendation has been made for the creation of a one-stop-shop for the processing of special chartered flights.

“There was a meeting of various agencies headed by the DOTr, where it was recommended to establish a one-stop-shop that will process special chartered flights to harmonize the procedures,” Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Sandoval said this is to put an end to the confusion caused by varying procedures of agencies in processing these flights.

She said the establishment of a one-stop-shop “will be a big help and big change in the process that will harmonize the procedures of different government agencies at the airport.”

Sandoval, meanwhile, said the BI sees nothing wrong with the processing of a chartered flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Feb. 13.

“The immigration officer that attended and processed the travel documents of 10 passengers and three flight crew, reported to the Commissioner that all of them have been duly processed,” Sandoval said.

She explained that the difference between regular commercial flights and special chartered flights is only the venue.

“Passengers in commercial flights, have to pass through the Immigration counter at the airport while those in special chartered flights are assisted inside the aircraft by immigration personnel,” the Immigration official added.

The Senate is investigating the alleged human trafficking activities at the NAIA, the country’s main gateway.

The Manila International Airport Authority earlier said the aircraft with registry number and callsign N9527E owned by Cloud Nine No. 1 Leasing Company Limited which left for Dubai on Feb. 13 has obtained necessary clearances.