Higher wages pushed for immigration workers

CEBU, Philippines -  As part of the modernization of the Bureau of Immigration, it will upgrade employees’ salaries and hire more workers to assist in the country’s airports.

Representative Luigi Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district), who was one of guest speakers in yesterday’s “Service Beyond the Metro” caravan of the bureau,  said the House Committee on Appropriations will continue to work on the improvement of the salaries of Immigration employees.

 “It is important for us to continue to improve our immigration services for the safety and security of the residents of the province and the rest of the country,” Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing assured that the committee will continue to support BI.

 “You have our absolute commitment that we will do our best to make sure that your needs are addressed.  BI has the smallest staff and their salary grades are not commensurate to the similar position in other agencies of government,” Quisumbing added.

BI-Cebu chief Casimiro Madarang III said BI has 1,400 employees nationwide.  He lauded the move of Quisumbing’s committee.

“Nalipay mi nga naa na gyu’y chance nga dungagan ang empleyado sa Immigration og mosaka sad ang sweldo,” Madarang said.

Part of BI’s nationwide caravan yesterday at the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City was for overstaying foreigners without any derogatory record to have themselves registered.

Madarang said they have a program called Alien Registration Program, which  gives a chance for overstaying aliens to register and get their individual security number until September this year.

 “After September unya wa pa gyud sila makaparehistro, they can be considered as an illegal alien ug pwede na namo sila dakpon kay illegal na man ang ilang pag stay sa atong nasud,” said Madarang.

Yesterday’s event was in line with the mission of BI of bringing services closer to its clientele. It kicked off on the 75-day countdown to their anniversary day.

The caravan offered to process immigration documents, including the long-stay visitor’s visa extension, extension and implementation of student visa, the updating of stay, among others.

Aside from foreign nationals, personnel of travel and tours agencies and English language schools also joined the event which was graced by BI Commissioner Seigfred Mison and his department and section heads from their head office.

A memorandum of agreement was also signed between BI through Mison and the administration of the Southwestern University and the University of San Carlos, among others, for the Handog Edukasyon program, wherein BI employees and their kids can avail of scholarships from these schools.

The caravan is set to run for two months in different parts of the country, including Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, among others.   (FREEMAN)