BEACH LIFE Tourists enjoy an afternoon break along the white sand beach in Cloud 9, General Luna town on Siargao Island, the top tourism drawer of Surigao del Norte. —ERWIN MASCARIÑAS
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday announced that it opened a new satellite office on the island of Siargao amid efforts to improve immigration services in tourist hubs.
According to the BI, its new Siargao office opened on Tuesday, March 12, at Purok 1 Poblacion in General Luna.
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“The establishment of this office in Siargao is part of our commitment to ensuring that foreign nationals have easy access to immigration services, especially in popular tourist destinations like Siargao,” said BI commissioner Norman Tansingco in a statement.
Tansingco said the new office will facilitate visa extensions and other essential immigration services for foreign nationals visiting the island.
He added that with the new establishment, foreigners visiting Siargao may now process immigration transactions at the office, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
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BI said that with the new office, the agency aims to support the Department of Tourism’s efforts to promote tourism in the Philippines by providing efficient and accessible immigration services to tourists and expatriates.
It was in January when Tansingco mentioned the agency’s plans to build immigration offices in tourist hubs, including Siargao Island, Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, and Sorsogon and Davao del Sur.