BI ready for ‘ber’ months, to open green lane for OFWs

FILE: Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are going through pre-departure procedures in Kuwait prior to boarding their flight to the Philippines on Tuesday, January 17. (Photo: Department of Migrant Workers/Facebook)

MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday assured full preparation for the “ber” months season.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said an adequate number of immigration officers were deployed to cater to the bulk of incoming and outgoing travelers.

“Marami po tayong bagong immigration officers na nai-deploy sa ating mga paliparan so makakasiguro po ang ating traveling public na fully manned yung ating mga counters (We have deployed newly hired immigration officers in our airports so our traveling public can be assured that our counters shall be fully manned),” Sandoval said.

“The Bureau of Immigration is very ready for the coming ‘ber’ months,” she added.

The BI also disclosed its plan to launch a green lane before the year ends.

This will be dedicated to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), frequent travelers and Alien Certificate of Registration Identity card (ACR I-card) holders.

“Ilalabas po ‘yung green lanes natin para naman po sa mga frequent travelers, sa mga ACR I-card holders and ‘yung mga OFWs, ‘yung mga kababayan po natin dahil priority talaga natin na maaalalayan ‘yung mga OFWs na uuwi po sa peak season (We will roll out the green lanes for our frequent travelers, ACR I-card holders and OFWs, our fellow Filipinos because it is our priority to assist our arriving OFWs during the peak season),” Sandoval said.

Sandoval told the Philippine News Agency the BI aims to sustain the operation of the green lane even beyond the so-called “ber” months.