BID installs machine to detect fake visas

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, after its successful launching and implementation of its newest program, the Visa Issuance Made Simple, will set up a fraud detector machine at the bureau.

BID Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, who led the switch-on rites with stakeholders and local leaders recently said that the said machine can detect fake and stolen visas.

Libanan said that with the installation of the said machine at the BID Cebu district office, fake and stolen visas will automatically be detected and will no longer be processed.

“This is in addition to our plans to add the International Police data in our system. With this, we will be protecting our country from terrorists and other undesirable aliens,” said Libanan, who served three terms as representative of the lone district of Eastern Samar prior to his stint as commissioner.

Libanan, who is a chairman of key committees of the House of Representatives, also came up with programs at the BID that spurred revenues including the job-generation visa and the pre-approved visa upon arrival.

The newly-launched VIMS drastically cuts down the time an applicant waits for a visa and at the same time it eliminates almost half of the procedures involved.

Cebu sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama commended Libanan for the said laudable project and pledged their support to the commissioner’s other projects. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (THE FREEMAN)