IMMIGRATION Commissioner Norman Tansingco expects that the proposed Bureau of Immigration modernization law will finally be passed this year, to give the bureau a solid head start in its aggressive plan to modernize its systems and professionalize its staff.
Tansingco’s expectation was bolstered by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s expressed support for the measure. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in his second State of the Nation Address, reiterated the passing of the new law to boost nation-building. The House of Representatives has done its part, passing the bill sponsored by 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, last May. Libanan expects the Senate to pass its counterpart bill.
The BI is an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and implements local immigration, citizenship, and alien admission and registration laws. The bureau’s mandate is to guard our borders, see to it that criminals and other undesirable aliens are not permitted to enter, and that human trafficking and other criminal activities are checked and eliminated in ports and airports.
‘A satisfactory action on the problem could prod the senators to hasten the passage of his pet bill, the BI modernization law.’
Recently, Commissioner Tansingco said the bureau is gearing up for more modernization projects to make international travel smooth and seamless amid an expected surge in tourist arrivals. He noted that the Department of Tourism is on an aggressive campaign, so that the BI would need to implement more projects “to make our processes and operations faster in accordance with international practices.”
Tansingco announced they are finalizing requirements for a more seamless immigration process for cruise tourists, which will attract more cruise ships to choose the Philippines as their destination.
Part of BI’s medium-term plan is to replace 25 percent of its manual operations to electronic gates in 2024, and expect half of their operations will be done electronically by 2026. The bureau is also set to expand its e-services to other immigration transactions. At present, Tansingco said, tourists can already extend their visas online, to attract more travelers to enjoy the different tourist destinations in the country.
All these grand plans can be realized and given a forceful push if the BI modernization bill becomes a law, the reason bipartisan leaders like House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Rep. Libanan are supporting it. After all, it has been 20 years since Libanan, then a representative of the lone district of Eastern Samar, first filed this proposed measure. Technology in international air travel has changed a lot since, and the Philippines needs to catch up.
While modernization will help, it is still the efficiency, honesty and dedication of immigration personnel that will count a lot in delivering the needed government services. This was emphasized by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as he announced a thorough investigation into the BI’s legal department after “thousands” of work visas were issued to fake corporations, including those related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Remulla, who exercises supervision over the BI, said he met with Tansingco last Monday and ordered him to probe this problem. The BI issues 9G visas, or “pre-arranged employment” visas, to foreigners headed to the Philippines to engage in lawful occupations.
Remulla advised Tansingco not to issue visas to dubious single proprietorships, even as it exercises good judgment in granting visa requests from corporations duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Remulla issued the challenge to the BI chief to conduct a thorough investigation and come up with results and recommendations until the end of the month. This challenge, of course, is accepted by Tansingco who has this task cut out for him. A satisfactory action on the problem could prod the senators to hasten the passage of his pet bill, the BI modernization law.
