In two of our recent return trips from Taiwan and Bangkok, we were given arrival cards by the Cebu Pacific in-flight crew although, as ground immigration officers told us, this was no longer a requirement when reentering the country.
When I pressed the officer why the airlines had not been told of this new development, he replied with a shrug, “Tinatanggap na rin namin, kasi na-file na rin ng passengers yung arrival cards (We just receive them, anyway the arrival cards have been filed by the passengers).”
Also, the absence of coordination among agencies was confirmed when the immigration officers told us that Customs forms have still to be filled out; however, when we checked out the information, we were told that no Customs forms are still needed.
So, will the Ninoy Aquino International Airport call a general meeting so everyone will be informed properly about the requirements and so that we will not be wasting reams and reams of paper? Just asking.
—LINDA Z. FRANCISCO,
lzfrancisco23@yahoo.com