BI: Good guys in, bad guys out

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/07/01/bi-good-guys-bad-guys-out-416405
• Wednesday, July 1, 2015

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison assured Wednesday that the agency is doing its best to rid the country of undesirable aliens.

Mison issued the statement during the launching of the bureau’s nationwide caravan dubbed “Service Beyond the Metro: Lakbay-Ugnayan sa Aming Ika-75 Kaarawan” at the Marquee Mall here.

Mison said they decided to launche the program in Angeles City because of the large number of foreigners in the Metro Angeles area which covers Clark Freeport, Mabalacat City, City of San Fernando, Porac town, and others.

“In this part of the Philippines, we have a large concentration of foreign nationals who may need a lot of assistance in terms of immigration laws. We might as well start of this ‘Service Beyond The Metro’ program here in the city.”

Mison lauded Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Pampanga Third District Congressman Oscar Rodriguez for supporting the project.

“Why Angeles City? Why Pampanga? The mere presence of our two guests (Pamintuan and Rodriguez) here simply shows that they really care and want to express support and work with us in terms of making sure that good guys in and bad guys out,” Mison said.

BI has evolved into an agency that is “more efficient, innovative and effective,” according to Mison.

“This, we can claim not just because we are the Bureau of Immigration but because we have the help of all well-meaning Filipinos, all partner agencies, all key leaders in government to make sure that our country is safe from the bad guys and we welcome the guys here in our country,” Mison said.

The event is aimed at renewing the renewing and enhancing the agency’s relationship with its stakeholders, Mison said.

“We are present here to showcase our services that foreign nationals and our local government units would need such that we can have a collective effort in terms of enforcement of immigration and registration laws,” Mison said.

Immigration officers are ready to answer questions in order to maintain BI’s policy of “no hidden agenda.”

“Everything will be transparent. Everything will be above-board in the spirit of closed cooperation and teamwork,” Mison said.

The agency is planning to acquire more equipment and hire more personnel to help foreign nationals comply with immigration laws, Mison said.

The caravan offers services including long stay visitors visa extension, extension and implementation of student visa, updating of stay, alien registration program, and application and issuance of Alien Certificate of Registry card (ACR I-Card).