Main News
RP's immigration technology at par with other developed countries, say Japanese naval officers
By
Mar 8, 2010 - 6:16:14 PM

MANILA, March 9 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) can now cope with other immigration offices of developed countries in terms of equipment and the usage of modern technology.

This was declared by Captain Makato Ito, commanding officer of a visiting Japanese naval squadron, who paid a courtesy call on BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Ito, together with Japanese naval Commander Takashi Iho, toured the BI main building in Intramuros, Manila, to get a glimpse of the modern facilities and equipment that were installed in the agency since it launched its modernization program more than two years ago.

The two Japanese naval officers said they were impressed by what they saw in the bureau as they did not expect the Philippine immigration service to have a border management system that is comparable with other developed countries.

The visitors were particularly impressed with the facilities that they observed at the BI which monitor the bureau’s activities in all the major ports of the country.

They were able to see how the bureau’s main office monitors the movement of passengers, including the actions of its immigration officers, in various international airports and subports.

Jose Carandang, BI boarding section chief, also informed the visitors that 37 seaports nationwide are now equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that facilitate efficient monitoring, screening and processing of travelers.

“They were impressed. They were surprised to see that a Third World country like the Philippines has a modern and efficient immigration service,” Carandang said in recalling his conversation with the visitors.

The Japanese naval officers head a training squadron of three Japanese battleships, manned by more than 600 officers and crew members that docked at Pier 13 of the Manila South Harbor.

The sailors, who include 100 newly-commissioned officers of the Japanese navy, are in Manila for a week-long goodwill visit that started last Wednesday. (PNA)
DCT/FFC/FMB