Bureau of Immigration forms body to screen travel agencies

MANILA, Philippines - To improve its frontline services and eradicate red tape, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has established a new center to screen and provide accreditation to the hundreds of travel agencies and law offices that transact business with the agency.

Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said the BI Accreditation Center will be manned by five employees and headed by associate commissioner Roy Almoro.

“In line with our continuing effort of giving good governance and to see to it that utmost attention is being given to foreigners and to the general public, the bureau has professionalized the field of giving services to its target clients,” Libanan said.

The center is the main component of the Bureau of Immigration Communication and Advocacy Network (BICAN) that the bureau will launch before the year ends, Almoro said.

He also said the BICAN aims to foster a stronger and harmonious working relationship between the BI and its stakeholders, particularly the travel agencies and law firms that transact in the bureau on behalf of their foreign customers. – Rudy Santos