BI collects over P3 B in 2014, highest since 1940

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration collected P3.022 billion in revenue 2014, the highest since it was created in 1940.

As they are about to celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday announced that they have achieved the highest revenue collection amounting to P3.022 billion since the agency’s creation in 1940.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the revenue in 2014 increased by P36.628 million from the P2.985 million total collection in 2013.

“As we enter our 75th anniversary in September with theme ‘Be Inspired, Be Innovative, Be Involved’, we commit to provide the best immigration experience to our clientele,” said Mison.

He said that they were able to surpass their other annual collections even if the bureau was not primarily a revenue-generating agency but more of a law enforcement agency.

This, he added, was an indication that many foreign nationals have been complying with the immigration and registration laws of the country.

In 2014, the BI implemented measures to make payments more accessible and convenient to foreigners such as the one-way processing of visa transactions with specified timelines to avoid papers from going back and forth between offices; field offices were moved to malls for easier access to the clients; and cashless payments were also allowed.

As for their personnel, the BI provided trainings including values, leadership and customer service to equip them with the proper skills in dealing with clients’ needs. The immigration officers and other employees were hired principally, if not solely, based on merit and competence.

They raised the morale of the employees through the bureau-wide participation and engaging activities such as the flash mob, fun run, human flag formation, and the BI music video “Tara Na”.

After more than three years of procurement activities, more than 200 passport readers and computer sets were likewise procured and installed at airport counters.

Mison said the good revenue turnout gives momentum for the BI to further improve its services in 2015, and the increased budget allocation adequately supports this goal.

For 2015, the BI was allocated a budget of P711.526 million under the General Appropriations Act, P148 million of which is intended for procurement of Information and Technology equipment and vehicles, and construction and improvement of facilities.