BI’s ‘OFW wing’ at NAIA T3 to fast-track immigration processing

A DEDICATED ‘overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wing’ has been opened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to ensure faster and more efficient immigration processing for departing migrant workers, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced Wednesday.

Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the expansion of the immigration area includes six additional counter spaces, manned by 12 immigration officers, which will help decongest processing lines, especially during peak travel seasons.

“This dedicated OFW wing is a testament to our commitment to making immigration procedures smoother and more efficient for our modern-day heroes,” he said in a statement.

“We recognize their sacrifices, and we want to ensure they experience faster and more convenient processing as they leave for work abroad.”

Viado said the change has resulted in shorter queues of departing passengers, including Filipino and foreign tourists, who are processed in the airport’s regular immigration counters.

The move is in time for long holidays this month, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

With increased counters and a dedicated processing area for OFWs, the BI expects to provide faster service and reduced waiting times for outbound Filipino workers.

Viado thanked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) for their support in facilitating the successful implementation of the project.

The BI records an average of more than 3,400 OFWs departing from NAIA daily, hence the need for special lanes that will exclusively conduct immigration formalities for these travelers.

The new expansion aligns with the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of improving services for OFWs, recognizing their significant contributions to the country’s economy. (Ferdinand Patinio)

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