The Philippines Bureau of Immigration recently announced that the Director of the Bureau, Joel Anthony Viado, and the Director-General of the Economic Zone Authority, Tereso O. Panga, have officially signed a "Data Sharing Agreement" to regulate the exchange and processing of data during the visa application and management process.
Viado stated that the agreement not only enhances the transparency and efficiency of the government in visa approval work but also ensures the security and integrity of the data. He noted, "Through close cooperation with the Economic Zone Authority, we are able to optimize processes, improve administrative efficiency, and effectively protect the legal rights of foreigners in the Philippines."
The Bureau of Immigration emphasized that this cooperative initiative reflects the common commitment of both institutions to facilitate investment and maintain national security. According to the agreement, the Bureau will provide relevant information to the Economic Zone Authority when foreigners apply for visas, to assess the compliance of visa issuance.
The agreement specifically emphasizes that all data sharing must strictly follow the "Data Privacy Act" and its related implementation rules to ensure the protection of applicants' personal information. Additionally, both parties will regularly review the implementation of security measures and immediately notify each other and take remedial actions in case of or suspected data breaches.
The Bureau added that the agreement specifies the mechanisms for data storage, processing, and destruction to ensure the compliance and traceability of information management.
This cooperation not only improves the efficiency of foreign labor visa approvals but also strengthens the government's supervision of data security, providing a strong guarantee for creating a more transparent and secure investment environment in the Philippines.
