BI posts record collection surplus

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has posted a record collection surplus of P100 million in the first five months of this year.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said the bureau collected a P600.83 million from January to May, 20 percent above its target collection of P462 million for the period.

Fernandez also said the collection for the period this year was a 14 percent increase from their collection of P524.4 million during the same period last year.

The BI chief said this was the first time the bureau has posted such a huge collection in the early months of the year, adding it was a sign that foreigners, especially tourists, continue to flock into the country.

"We can now declare at this time that we will be able to surpass both our target and 2005 income by year-end by a significant, if not substantial, margin," Fernandez said.

He expects the bureau to once again post over P1 billion in collection at the end of the year.

BI records showed the BI earned P1.27 billion last year, P1.1 billion in 2004, P1.09 billion in 2003, and P1.07 billion in 2002.

Elvira Presado, BI chief of finance, said the bureau’s collection was highest in January at P135.59 million. In February, the bureau collected P126.9 million.

Presado said the increase in collection can be attributed to the surge of applications for the I-Card, a tamper-proof document issued to foreigners registered at the BI.

Foreigners in the country have only until August this year to secure an I-Card, which replaces the paper-based alien certificate of registration.