The Bureau of Immigration (BI) vowed to continue its transparency as it was cited for the third year in a row for championing freedom of information (FOI).
The BI was one of several government agencies that received an FOI award conferred by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) during an awarding ceremony that was held in Cebu City.
The BI was recognized for being one of the top-performing agencies that acted on 250 to 499 requests and resolved at least 90 percent of requests for information from the general public inquiring via the government’s eFOI portal.
“Transparency and good governance remain our key focus areas, hence we ensure that we provide accurate and accessible information to the public. I commend BI personnel for the achievement, encouraging them to continue doing good in providing quality service to the public,” Morente said.
He again vowed that the BI will uphold the public’s right to information by always giving prompt access to needed data on the various types of services offered by the agency.
The BI’s National Operations Center (BINOC), the BI’s FOI receiving office, ensures that all queries posted under the government portal are acted on immediately.
Morente shared that the BI has also put up several hotlines through which the public may share their concerns.
“Our BINOC caters to queries 24/7 through our telephone lines, and we have set-up emails and social media pages that are known to immediately address concerns of the public. We also have our main office and BI offices nationwide that also provide much-needed information, especially during this time of the pandemic,” the BI chief added.
The award is given out by the PCOO annually to select government offices and non-government organizations that have made significant progress in affording citizens’ right to access information on matters of public concern.
The BI is one of the government’s busiest frontline service agencies as it caters mostly to international travelers coming in and out of the country, as well as accept and process applications for various types of immigrant and non-immigrant visas of foreigners in the country.
Due to the enormity of its mandate and functions, the BI receives hundreds of requests for information from the public.
“We are proud of this achievement, and we commit to further innovate to be able to continue the legacy of providing quality service to the public,” said Morente.