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MANILA, Philippines?The congressional bicameral conference committee has approved the Philippine Immigration Act of 2009, which is expected to bring more tourists and investors in the country.
Senator Francis ?Chiz Escudero, head of the Senate panel, hopes that the proposed legislation would be ratified by both chambers of Congress before it goes on a long break on Wednesday.
?We approved the reconciled version. It will just be cleaned up and perhaps be presented for ratification at the House and the Senate before we adjourn tomorrow,? Escudero said after the hearing on Tuesday.
Under the proposed legislation, Escudero said the immigration would have a ?complete staffing pattern? with employees enjoying a security of tenure while the commissioner and his deputies would serve at the pleasure of the President.
He said the measure provides a one-year transition period for the incumbent commissioner and his deputies.
Immigration commissioner Marcelino Libanan, who attended the hearing, immediately dispelled speculations that the ?carry-over? period was an extension of his term.
?Ang tingin ng iba parang ini-extend and term natin (Some think that we are extending the term of office). This is immaterial. What?s important is that we have an immigration law which is attuned with the needs of time lalo na sa panahon ng (especially in this time of) globalization, transnational crimes, human trafficking,? Libanan told reporters.
?Bagamat na extend tayo for what we did in the BI, ako po ay nagpapasalamat na binigyan tayo ng ganoong trust ng Senado at House of Representatives (Although our term was extended for what we did in the BI, I am grateful that we were given that trust by the Senate and the House of Representatives),? he said.
More than this, however, Libanan said the enactment of the measure into law would not only bring more investments to the country but would also help the country?s fight against terrorism and other criminal syndicates.
The BI chief said a more modernized bureau would be more effective in fighting transnational crimes. He said it would enable them to institutionalize the National Operations Center and other divisions such as border protection, especially in Mindanao.
With the new immigration law, Libanan said different types of visas will also be issued like investor, tourist, and journalist visas.
