BOC ready for influx of travelers

MANILA, Philippines — Personnel of the Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) are prepared for the influx of local and foreign tourists after the government has fully reopened the country to vaccinated travelers.

BOC district collector Mimel Talusan said the port of NAIA has strengthened security measures to ensure readiness to attend to arriving passengers.

Talusan said the BOC deployed additional X-ray machines at the airport’s arrival area and warehouses, which operate around the clock, to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and endangered species in the country.

This is in response to the directive of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to protect the country’s borders and ensure fast clearance of legitimate goods, according to Talusan.

“We assigned more personnel at the NAIA to better serve foreign tourists and returning overseas Filipino workers,” she said.

The BOC also created a one-stop shop to facilitate the entry of imported products, especially COVID-19 medicines.

Customer care centers for postal packages were established at the NAIA main building and the Central Mail Exchange Center.