The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) is launching a comprehensive anti-red tape campaign, announcing several initiatives that will facilitate more efficient immigration services.
BI Associate Commissioner and Chairman of the Integrated Committee on Good Governance, Abdullah Mangotara, stated that several programs aimed at eradicating and preventing bureaucratic red tape are already being implemented.
Mangotara said the programs are intended to continue anti-red tape efforts and align with the Bureau's Moral Renewal Action Plan, an initiative by Commissioner Marcelino Libanan to build a stronger work ethic among BI staff and improve the quality of service.
Libanan's reform program gained momentum following the successful implementation of the Visa Facilitation Program. This program reduced processing times and cut visa application documentary requirements by 58 percent.
A campaign against fixers has also been implemented, which prohibits unauthorized individuals from conducting transactions within the Bureau of Immigration premises.
A national operations center has been established to monitor the activities of BI offices nationwide, and a 24-hour hotline has been set up to receive complaints regarding illegal aliens and respond to public inquiries.
The ground floor lobby of the BI headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, has been renovated, with a Public Assistance and Information Unit and a Public Attorney's Office desk established to serve the public in need.
Mangotara submitted a copy of the Bureau's anti-red tape program to Civil Service Commission Chairman Ricardo Saludo.
The various initiatives include holding anti-red tape seminars and workshops for BI staff, as well as convening consultative meetings with key BI officials.
Other measures include the implementation of the BI Communication and Advocacy Network program, the publication of a staff manual, capacity-building activities for frontline personnel, the reorganization of the Integrated Committee on Good Governance, the introduction of a code of conduct, and a performance rating system for BI personnel.
The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) has elevated the Bureau of Immigration to third place in its ranking of the top 100 government agencies. The PAGC regularly evaluates the anti-corruption performance of government agencies.
The Bureau of Immigration is also an active agency in the Civil Service Commission's Performance Management System—Office Performance Rating System, which aims to establish a meritocracy within the bureaucracy.
