After scolding, immigration men get P9.5-M bonus

They all need a little spanking, but they could also use some extra cash.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had already approved the release of P9.476 million worth of performance-based bonuses for its 900 officials and employees.

This developed even after the government agency received a dressing down from President Benigno Aquino III during his fourth State of the Nation Address in Congress last month for the alleged “incompetence” of its officials and personnel.

Who made the grade?

A BI employee who received an “outstanding” rate will receive a maximum bonus of P25,000 while those who received a grade of “very satisfactory” and “good” will get P13,500 and P7,000, respectively, said acting Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

Mison pointed out that unlike in the past when employees got equal incentive pay every year, their bonus this time may increase or decrease depending on their work performance.

Mison announced that the release of the bonuses was effected through the several reforms initiated by former BI chief Ricardo David to improve the bureau’s services.

Surpassing targets

He said the bureau was rated by the DBM as the “second-best performing agency” under the Department of Justice (DOJ) for surpassing all its operational targets last year.

The bureau received high marks in the areas of enforcement, alien registration and travel control and passenger documentation, he added.

Mr. Aquino had stated that he had continually admonished the immigration bureau to improve its watch over the country’s seaports and airports, but Filipino and foreign fugitives still managed to slip out of the country.

During the bureau’s 72nd anniversary celebration last year, David and his subordinates were scolded by the President for the disappearance of South Korean fugitive Kim Tae-dong and the escape of Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, are were wanted in connection with the January 2011 killing of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega.

Kim, whose extradition had been sought by South Korea for an $8-million embezzlement case, escaped from St. Luke’s Medical Center two years ago while under the watch of immigration agents.

David resigned from his post last month reportedly after Canadian Susan Rigby, a private school teacher with a pending criminal case, managed to fly out of the Philippines despite a “lookout bulletin” issued by the DOJ.