BI posts P4.75-B income in 2017

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration posted a total of P4.75 billion revenue in 2017, recording its all time high income, the bureau announced on Monday.

In a statement on Monday, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente bared that the BI earned 18% higher of P849,4-million more than its 2016 revenue where the agency posted P3.86 billion income.

Morente noted that the agency achieved the feat was despite woes that hit the BI following the resignation of several employees due to unpaid overtime fees

"This is a tribute to the men and women of the bureau who persevered and opted to remain in their jobs even in the face of financial adversities," Morente said.

"They are the unsung heroes of our bureau who deserve our deepest appreciation and gratitude," Morente added.

In the 2018 national budget, President Rodrigo Duterte again allowed the BI to put collected express lane fees and charges into a “trust fund” for the payment of salaries and overtime of its employees. The measure will be used until Congress has enacted a new Immigration Modernization Law that will upgrade BI’s compensation system.

BI Spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang attributed the increase in revenue to the government's tourism campaign and the increasing number of multinational companies operating in the country.

Mangrobang also cited the country's hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders' summit in November and the Miss Universe beauty pageant in January last year.

"We also became more efficient in our collections system due to the full computerization of our official receipts and order of payment slips issuances and the strict monitoring of our collections in the main office and sub-port and field offices," Mangrobang added.

Last December, computers at immigration counters have been upgraded with a new biometrics-based system to improve the BI's ability to keep fugitives and terrorists out.