MANILA -- As the year comes to a close, officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are beginning to develop future plans and programs that would improve their service to the transacting public, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said on Wednesday.

Morente said that they have identified technological advancement to be their top priority for 2022 and beyond.

“We now live in the computer age. With the rapid rise of digitalization during this pandemic, it is paramount that we keep up especially with global trends,” shared Morente.

According to Morente, they have so far assessed and updated the programs that they have set for 2021 and are moving to look into their strengths that they could maximize, as well as proactively address weaknesses they might encounter.

While the plans and programs for 2022 are already in place, the Bureau states that they are already preparing and crafting plans for 2023.

“Automating key processes is in the works for the future of the Bureau,” said Morente. He added that they are targeting to automate key processes to make it easier for the transacting public.

“This is our move towards the new normal, and is also in preparation of our submission of priority plans and programs to the Department of Budget Management (DBM) for budget appropriation,” Morente added.

Apart from implementing the e-gates at the country’s primary airports as well as the online appointment system, the Bureau has also started preparing for an online payment system that they hope will be available to the public by early next year.

The BI Chief further guarantees their agency’s continued pursuit towards efficient and effective immigration service. “As the times are evolving, rest assured that the bureau is also striving to evolve and improve through strategic planning,” he said. “This is a step further towards a better bureau, with technical capacities at par with other countries,” added Morente. (BI)