Thirty newly-hired immigration personnel will be deployed this week at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as part of the security measures being implemented by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

This was disclosed on Thursday by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan as he ordered the assignment of a new batch of immigration officers (IO) and intelligence officers at the premier port of the country.

Libanan, together with Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera and other BI officials and employees welcomed the new personnel to the agency’s rank and file in simple ceremonies held at the bureau’s main office in Intramuros, Manila

The employees just completed a rigorous training program at the BI’s training academy in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga where they spent a whole week listening to lectures and undergoing rigid on-the-job training on immigration rules and procedures.

“Be alert. Be vigilant. That is your mandate as gatekeepers of our country,” Libanan said as he gave his marching orders to the new employees who each received from the BI chief their certificates of attendance in the training program.

Lawyer Norman Tansingco, BI chief of staff, said Libanan signed the personnel orders assigning the 30 new employees to the NAIA, thus beefing up the bureau’s presence at the premier port.

As part of its capability building program, the BI requires all newly hired personnel to undergo a training program prior to being deployed or assigned to their posts at the NAIA and other BI subports or field offices.

BI training director Simeon Vallada said the trainees are taught various topics including the Philippine immigration act, immigration rules and procedures, courtesy and discipline, and the different types of immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

The new employees comprised the first batch of the 92 employees who were hired by the bureau to augment the number of its personnel at the NAIA.

“The second batch of the employees will complete their training this week and they, too, will later be deployed at the NAIA,” Vallada said.

Libanan had earlier sought authority from the national government to hire more immigration officers at the NAIA in view of the increasing volume of passengers and the opening of the NAIA 3 terminal.

Libanan’s request was later approved by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya who facilitated the creation of 92 new items in the bureau’s plantilla and the allotment and release of funds for the employees’ salaries.