Immigration personal at NAIA banned from using phones while on duty

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned its personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to stop using mobile phones while on duty or they will be meted stiff disciplinary actions.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the warning after his office received reports that some immigration officers on duty at the NAIA were caught on camera using their mobile phones in violation of a standing directive prohibiting the said practice.

Morente stressed that the use of mobile phones was disallowed to ensure that immigration officers render full and uninterrupted service to the traveling public during their tour of duty.

“I have thus instructed our Port Operations Division Chief, Grifton Medina, to see to it that the ban on mobile phones is implemented to the letter not only at the NAIA but in the other international airports as well,” the BI chief added.

Medina, meanwhile, said that he has already directed BI head supervisors of NAIA’s three terminals and the other airports to take Morente’s warning seriously or be also held responsible for the actions of their subordinates.

“I am taking them to task for every violation of the Commissioner’s directive by any personnel under them,” Medina said. “Using mobile phones is disallowed as aside from being counterproductive and may promote corruption, it is also an eyesore to passengers who expect us to give them fast and efficient service.”

Meanwhile, Medina said the BI will soon launch an integrity management program (IMP) for immigration personnel as part of the agency’s anti-corruption campaign.

He bared that an integrated management committee, composed of selected BI officials, will soon be formed to formulate and implement anti-corruption measures in all of the bureau’s offices, including the different ports and sub-ports nationwide.

Medina, who also chairs the BI’s composite committee on good governance, explained that the IMP will be initiated to support the anti-corruption advocacy of the Duterte administration.

Launched in 2014 under Executive Order 176, the IMP was established as a national corruption prevention program which aims to reduce levels of corruption in government agencies and improve public trust and confidence in the government.