Immigration regional offices created

CEBU, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration is now establishing regional offices in various parts of the country as part of its decentralization scheme aimed at making its services more accessible to foreigners living in the provinces.

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, who was in Cebu recently, said that he already issued Implementing Rules and Regulation the other day to take effect 15 days after.

Former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez had issued a memorandum order that provides for the establishment of 10 immigration area offices that cover all 13 regions of the country.

The new offices shall be established in San Fernando City, La Union (Region 1 and Cordillera region); Angeles City (Regions 2 and 3); Binondo (Metro Manila-North); Parañaque (Metro Manila-South); Batangas City (Regions 4 and 5); Iloilo City (Region 6); Cebu City (Regions 7 and 8); Zamboanga City (Region 9 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao); Davao City (Regions 11 and 12); and Cagayan de Oro City (Regions 10 and 13).

Under the rules, an IAO is to be headed by an immigration area director who will be assisted by a staff composed of personnel from the bureau’s alien registration, legal, intelligence, and law enforcement divisions as well as from its civil security unit and computer section.

The director shall be responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operations of all BI district, sub-port, extension, field and satellite offices in his or her area.

“These directors will be the eyes and ears of the commissioner or in short they are little commissioners in their respective area,” Libanan said in a press conference.

Libanan also said that these directors shall direct, control and supervise the intelligence, enforcement, legal, aliens registration, information technology, and civil security programs and activities within his area of responsibility.

Further, the director shall also act as official representative of the BI commissioner to national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and the private sector relative to immigration concerns in his or her area.

All BI alien control officers nationwide were instructed to extend full assistance and cooperation to the immigration area officer and submit regular reports of their activities and accomplishments to the immigration area director. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)