Immigration bill will address corruption — BI deputy spox

An immigration official on Tuesday said the bill modernizing the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will address possibilities of corruption among its personnel.

“Ma-di-digtize po natin ang ating proseso para less po ang intervention ng tao at ‘yung possibility ng corruption, intervention ay mawawala o malilimitahan natin,” BI Deputy Spokesperson Melcin Mabulac said during the televised public briefing.

(We will digitize the process so we can lessen human intervention and the possibility of corruption. We will limit or remove the intervention.)

“At sagot ito sa ating pangarap na magkaroon tayo ng… honest to goodness na serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(And this is the answer to our dream of an honest-to-goodness service for our countrymen.)

This came after the House of Representatives approved House Bill 8203 or the Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act on its third and final reading.

According to Mabulac, the current Immigration Law is no longer suitable to the needs and mode of transportation of today.

Mabulac said they are also seeking to modernize the country’s border security by installing additional e-gates and advanced cameras.

Meanwhile, he said BI officers will also be assured that they have a career path. Aside from this, the bill will increase the salary of BI officers.

“Kaya nag papasalamat kami sa ginawa ng ating lower house na naaprubahan na po, finally, on the lower house ‘yung bagong Immigration bill,” he said, adding that they are hoping the bill will be passed into law this year. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News