BI undergoes total revamp

Photo from https://www.immigration.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines—It’s the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) turn to undergo a total makeover.

After the Bureau of Customs, which took the first steps to a major revamp recently after Commissioner Ruffy Biazon asked for his subordinates’ courtesy resignations, the BI begins a top-to-bottom reorganization on Monday as part of its efforts to get rid of its bad image, according to OIC Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

In an interview with reporters on Friday, Mison said the reorganization, a first in the bureau’s history, was initiated by the Department of Justice in early August and he had just signed the papers to implement it.

“We realized that about 20 percent of our organic personnel had been holding the same posts for more than five years after we made a list enumerating our employees and their length of service. They will be the ones affected by the reshuffle,” he said.

Based on an order signed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the following personnel will assume new posts: Alberto Braganza as acting chief of the BI administrative division; Elvira Presado, chief of the finance and management division;

Danilo Almeda, acting chief of the immigration regulation division; Fortunato Manahan Jr., acting chief of the alien registration division; Jose Carlitos Licas, acting chief of the intelligence division; Cris Villalobos, acting chief of the law and investigation division; Ma. Carmelita Vitan, acting chief of the airport operations division;

Marcela Malaluan, acting chief of the verification and compliance division, and Estanislao Canta, acting chief of the board of special inquiry.