MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is now establishing regional offices in various parts of the country to make it more proactive and to decentralize its operations.
In a statement, the BI said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez recently issued a memorandum order directing the agency to establish 10 immigration area offices (IAOs) that will cover all the 13 regions of the country.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said he will soon issue orders designating the officials and employees to be assigned to the regional centers.
The new offices will be put up in San Fernando, La Union (Region 1 and Cordillera Administrative Region); Angeles City (Regions 2 and 3); Binondo (Metro Manila-North); Parañaque (Metro Manila-South); Batangas City (Regions 4 and 5); Iloilo City (Region 6); Cebu City (Regions 7 and 8); Zamboanga City (Region 9 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao); Davao City (Regions 11 and 12); and Cagayan de Oro City (Regions 10 and 13)
Through the regional offices, Libanan said they want the bureau’s services to be more accessible to foreigners living in the provinces.
Libanan said he is still awaiting the list of the BI officials and employees who will be recommended for assignment to the new offices by the bureau’s committee on regionalization chaired by BI executive director Franklin Littaua.