Libanan briefs GMA on BI reforms

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today inaugurated the newly-renovated main office of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) even as she was briefed on the reforms that transpired in the agency since 2007 which enabled it to rank third in the list of government agencies considered as corruption fighters.

Mrs. Arroyo unveiled the marker at the entrance of the newly-renovated BI main office in Intramuros, Manila after which she went upstairs to preside at her regular Cabinet meeting.

BI Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan informed the Chief Executive that the escort services in the international airports have already been eliminated.

When he was appointed in 2007, Libanan’s first marching  order from Mrs. Arroyo was to eliminate the escort racket at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) which had victimized thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Libanan also reported on the other reforms that he has initiated to fight graft and improve the delivery of the bureau’s services to the transacting public.

Earlier, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) listed the BI as third in the ranking of 100 government agencies that have successfully eliminated red tape and reduced corruption.

Libanan cited the launching of the BI’s Visa Issuance Made Simple (VIMS) project in 2008 which, he said, has been institutionalized to simply the requirements and speed up the processing of visa applications.

He added that fixers have virtually disappeared in BI offices as more foreigners have been enticed to apply for their visas themselves and secure their immigration documents without engaging the services of unauthorized persons.

This, according to the BI, resulted in a sharp increase in the bureau’s revenues which amounted to a record P2.111 billion in 2008.

Libanan said the BI has taken an active and supportive role in the government’s efforts to court foreign tourists and investors to make it easy for them to visit and do business in the Philippines.

He mentioned the visa upon arrival program, which allow foreign investors to get their tourist visa upon arrival at the airports instead of applying for one at the Philippine consulate in their port of origin.

To address complaints of harassment at the airports, the BI chief said he imposed a “no contact” and “tattoo is an art” policies on all immigration employees.

Libanan disclosed that a Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) was also introduced to provide indefinite stay to foreign businessmen who employ 10 or more Filipino workers. (BI News)