Bureau of Immigration chief cites plans to improve security in Asean

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said yesterday the delegates to the 13th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations immigration officials fleshed out plans to improve security while promoting travel, tourism and investments in the ASEAN region.

Some of these plans include the creation of a common visa for foreigners who wish to travel to ASEAN countries, and the establishment of a common database in ASEAN that would contain derogatory records of travelers, as well as record lost and stolen passports used by transnational criminals and terrorists.

“The meeting also noted the ASEAN Secretariat’s suggestion to publicize for greater public awareness of the existing visa exemption arrangements, which facilitate ASEAN member states’ nationals to travel to most countries within the ASEAN region without the need of applying for visas prior to departure,” according to a joint statement by the delegates.

BI spokesman Floro Balato said the delegates discussed the possible implementation of the common ASEAN visa by 2015. – Rudy Santos