A GREEN lane and a passport laboratory are some of the improvements lined up for the Mactan Cebu International Airport as it readies for the construction of its new terminal within the year.
At yesterday’s press conference, MCIA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said the green lane is intended to expedite processing of passengers who don’t have anything to declare with the Bureau of Customs.
“But the Bureau of Customs still maintains the right to check your luggage and will require you to undergo inspection. This is similar to many practices in other countries to hasten the flow of passengers,” Villarete said.
He said Customs Commissioner John Sevilla issued the order to set up Green Lanes in airports around the country. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also secured funding from the Australian government to set up a passport laboratory.
“I think the Bureau of Immigration will make announcements on this probably on the 19th. We are already reserving an area for them,” Villarete said. He added that the facility can help them detect tampered or fake passports.
“We want to assure the riding public that we remain a ‘safety-conscious’ airport,” the MCIA manager told reporters yesterday.