Joel Anthony Viado, the Director of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the Philippines, recently announced that the BI will deepen reforms to fully respond to President Marcos Jr.'s vision of a "New Philippines" (Bagong Pilipinas), focusing on governance transformation, service enhancement, and digital innovation.
Viado stated that the BI has already comprehensively cleared illegal POGOs as per the President's directive, arresting nearly 1500 foreign nationals involved in fraud and illegal gambling nationwide. Additionally, the BI will also crack down on foreign cyber fraudsters, not tolerating transnational cybercrime networks that "operate under a shell."
In terms of services, the "eTravel" electronic travel system has been fully launched, integrating data from multiple agencies, simplifying entry and exit procedures, and eliminating paper forms. The BI also utilizes the eGov super app to centrally provide key services such as entry and exit.
To accommodate overseas Filipino workers (OFW), a dedicated lane has been established at Manila Airport Terminal 3, making entry and exit more convenient and welcoming. Additionally, the newly activated "Advance Passenger Information System" can identify high-risk passengers in advance, safeguarding border security.
In combating human trafficking, the Philippines has been rated "Tier 1" in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report for nine consecutive years, with the BI achieving significant results in protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.
Looking ahead, Viado promises to continue promoting technological reforms to create an efficient, transparent, and people-centered "Immigration Bureau of the future." This year marks the 85th anniversary of the BI, and he emphasized: "We will meet the challenges of the new era with better services and fulfill our promises to the people."
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Philippines has also officially announced a joint effort with multiple departments to launch a large-scale crackdown on cyber scams and illegal communication activities, targeting fake websites, scam text messages, and mass distribution of blacklisted numbers.
Ivan John Uy, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, revealed that the government will soon activate a high-tech platform called the "Unified Threat Monitoring Center," deploying government and telecommunications company technical resources to scan and monitor the cyber space and communication traffic within the Philippines around the clock.
