BI bars travel agents with relatives in bureau

 The Bureau of Immigration has barred relatives of its employees who are working in travel agencies from transacting business in the BI, in an apparent bid to further curb graft and corruption in the agency.

Acting Immigration Commissioner Roy Almoro said the order prohibiting owners and employees of accredited travel agencies and consultants who have relatives working in the BI from doing business in the agency was issued by Commissioner Marcelino Libanan last March 14.

“This order was intended to prevent BI employees from extending special treatment and favors to travel agencies,” Almoro said. “This is a move to level the playing field. We have put in place a system that will make it easy and simple for everybody, such that special favors are not necessary.”

In the same memorandum, Libanan increased from P50,000 to P100,000 the bond that should be posted by all travel agencies applying for accreditation to transact at the BI. Almoro said the bond was increased to further protect the public from unscrupulous and fly-by-night travel agents.

Currently, there are 340 travel agencies and consultancy firms accredited to do business with BI.   – Edu Punay