MANILA, Philippines -– The Bureau of Immigration will vigorously pursue its thrust to attract more foreign investors and tourists into the country by liberalizing its rules and policies on visa issuance, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, said Wednesday.

Libanan, who is marking his second year in office this week, cited the recent launching of the special visa for employment generation (SVEG) which he said has drawn interest from hundreds of foreign businessmen in and outside Metro Manila.

“It is time that we migrate from the restrictive ‘hammer and shield’ mindset to that of a pro-investment agent,” Libanan said in a speech to officials and employees after a thanksgiving Mass at the immigration central office in Intramuros, Manila.

According to Libanan, one-stop shop SVEG centers are now being set up in key cities all over the country to make visa processing easier for foreigners staying in the provinces.

Under bureau regulations, the SVEG, which entitles the holder to stay here indefinitely, is given to a foreigner who invests in a company that employs 10 or more Filipino workers.

“We hope that with this visa, fewer Filipinos will migrate to other countries to look for jobs,” Libanan said.

The commissioner thanked the bureau’s rank and file for supporting his reform programs, including the visa-issuance-made-simple (VIMS) project, which cut the documentary requirements and processing time for visa applications by more than half.

He also noted that more and more immigration satellite offices were being established throughout the country to bring the bureau’s services closer to its clientele.