Minority bloc cites Congress passage of Immigration bill

By Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

THE minority bloc in the House of Representatives has welcomed the second reading approval of the measure that would enable the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to embark on an aggressive plan to modernize its systems and professionalize its staff.

This developed as four Japanese fugitives were deported by the BI to face charges for committing numerous crimes in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the BI launched an intensive manhunt for amissing South Korean fugitive since early morning Sunday.

The House approved unanimously approved House Bill 8203, or the proposed BI Modernization Act, which was among the priority measuresadopted by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“We are counting on the full automation and digitization of the BI’sprocesses and services to reinforce border security and improve travel experience,” said the bloc’s leader, 4Ps Rep. Marcelino Libanan, one of the bill’s principal authors.

Libanan originally introduced the BI modernization bill in 2004, when he was representative of the lone district of Eastern Samar inCongress. He refiled the bill last year upon his election as 4Ps partylist representative.

The bill authorizes the BI to retain in a trust fund “no more than P1.2 billion” of its annual income from fees, fines, and penalties.