THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) Cebu District opened its new satellite office at the Gaisano Mactan Island Mall in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.
BI Cebu District alien control officer Casimiro Madarang III, the project’s coordinator, said the new office was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed between Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr and Tai-Pan Development Inc. president Henry Gaisano II.
Gaisano Mactan Island Mall will allow the BI to occupy a 91 sq.m. area inside the mall and waive all rental fees, renovate the space according to agreed design and specifications, provide furniture and fixtures, including transaction counters, office desk, chairs and four desktop personal computers with printers and Internet connection.
The BI, however, will shoulder the air-conditioning charges and other common expenses for the maintenance of the office.
The new satellite office was established to give foreigners based in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town an alternative and convenient venue for processing their immigration requirements.
“Foreigners no longer have to travel to our Cebu District VII office as there is now an immigration satellite office near their place where they can file their application for visa extensions and other immigration documents,” BI said in its press statement.
The new satellite office is manned by a team of five BI employees and is situated at the ground floor annex, Gaisano Mactan Island Mall. All applicants are required to dress properly. Transactions are entertained Mondays to Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.