For Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, it’s not only hi-tech financial or marketing gadgets that make for a successful management. “Considering that the Bureau of Immigration is a huge bureaucracy, it is also important, that a leader should spend time to reflect on the basic rules of conduct that push wholesome and healthy working relationships with his fellow workers,’’ Libanan says.
Upon his appointment as BI Commissioner, he surmised right then that he was “renting” an employee’s work ethics. He expects dedication, diligence and patience from his colleagues down to the last rank and file because he targets 100,000 jobs for Filipinos, thanks to foreign would-be and assured entrepreneurs to arrive here.
“He is the boss, alright. Mabuti at magaling na kaibigan (Libanan), pero when it comes to work, you work. If need be na sabunin (reprimand) ka — sasabunin ka — without meaning offense,” Pats Arbas, chief technical staff who has been with the BI for 10 years, says. “He tells us when we reach the office that it’s already a different milieu and we have to serve our clients,” Arbas also said.
Carefully, he deals with issues methodically as they arise — foreign terrorists sneaking into the country, illegal recruiters and pedophiles entering and leaving the country undetected. A system integrating BI’s computer database with the Interpol is now on a dry run. Officers manning different ports of entry will easily detect within minutes incoming foreigners alleged to be involved in transnational crimes. With the launch of this new database, it will be harder for human smugglers and illegal recruiters to ply their criminal activities, Libanan says. The system will be installed nationwide, such as Cebu, Laoag, Subic, Clark, Davao and Zamboanga. “You can imagine 27,000 prospective OFWs leaving the country daily, only to victims of human trafficking and illegal necessities,” he says.
The reforms he introduced are: Job Generation Visa (JGV) which promises to create 100,000 jobs for locals starting next year — without spending a single peso, that is — if a foreigner invests here and employs at least 10 Filipinos he will be granted the privilege of an indefinite stay in the country; Visa Issuance Made Simple (VIMS) which has reduced processing time by 85 percent and document requirements by 45 percent; and pre-arranged visa upon arrival, which facilitates the entry of foreigners by allowing them to secure their visas upon their arrival with endorsements from trade groups.
Other reforms that Libanan introduced are: No touch, no contact policy which has benefited foreign investors and OFWs; No lunch break to ensure continuous 10-hour service to clients and allowing the “tattoo is smart” policy which has prevented harassment of legitimate foreigners — businessmen and tourists.
On the lighter side, he is openly admired as “The Guitar Man” and a singer par excellance in his own right. He can’t do without strumming his guitar, singing a song to give himself a breather from the daily volume of work.
“Through my guitar, I can express what cannot be spoken.” Observing the work ethics of his staff, he would later inject more positive ways for them to always be on their toes serving clientele for the glory of God, he said.
An ex-seminarian, Libanan said his father wanted him to become a priest, but it was not meant to be. He finished instead, a BS Med Tech course and Bachelor of Law passing the Philippine Bar with high marks.
He was the youngest budding political figure elected to the provincial board of Eastern Samar at 24, and later as vice governor. He was a three-term congressman of his district before he was appointed by President Arroyo at the Immigration Bureau.