Prior to the ceremonial launch in July, the agency held a soft launch for limited e-services such as visa waivers, e-travel for arrivals, and ECCs in December 2022.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco says that he hopes to have e-visa services through the government’s e-Governance app in time for the bureau’s anniversary on September.
“Modernization is one of the key focus areas for the bureau in line with the e-Governance program of President Marcos,” says Commissioner Tansingco
He adds that the agency aims to digitalize its services this 2023, making all transactions paperless.
The agency strives to implement a modernized process for immigration services however that its most challenging job is its airport operations.
Commissioner Tansingco says that he has tasked the BI IT division to address this by developing programs for green lanes for overseas Filipinos, frequent travelers and the like.
In his keynote address, Department of Justice Undersecretary Jose Cadiz Jr. thanks BI personnel as well as the Department of Information and Communications Technology for the efforts in order to ensure efficient delivery of services to stakeholders.
“No more will we witness the deplorable scenario where the lines of availing our services extend way outside the building under the blistering heat,” says Undersecretary Cadiz. (GG/PIA)
