Brooke’s Point declared limited int’l port

The Bureau of Immigration declared yesterday the town of Brooke’s Point in Palawan as a limited international port of entry to boost the country’s trade relations with neighboring nations in the region.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said the additional port would contribute to the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), a regional initiative for economic cooperation identified by President Arroyo as a key development strategy for Mindanao and Palawan.

Earlier, Fernandez declared the port of Glan in Saranggani province as a limited port of entry to boost efforts by local mayors in the area to attract tourists and investors from Indonesia.

Immigration Regulations chief Edgardo Mendoza said Brooke’s Point, which is about 192 kilometers from Puerto Princesa City, was opened to foreign vessels and passengers because of its proximity to Sabah, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Immigration Boarding Section chief Jose Carandang, however, clarified that as a limited port, only non-restricted nationals can be admitted into Brooke’s Point.

"Those considered as restricted or high risk nationals will have to pass through our regular sub-ports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Mactan and Davao," Carandang explained.

The official also bared that a contingent of immigration officers and soldiers from the Philippine Marines have been deployed to the town since 2002 as part of the government’s efforts to thwart the entry of foreign terrorists via the backdoor.

The entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; East and West Kalimantan, North and South Sulawesi, Maluku, Gorontalo and Irian Jaya in Indonesia; Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines comprise the BIMP-EAGA, which was created in 1994.

It aims to utilize the area’s natural resources, with due regard to environmental sustainability, and to promote trade, investment and tourism through sub-regional cooperation.