08/04/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has forged an agreement with the Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. (KCCPI) to facilitiate the expeditious processing of visas and other immigration documents of South Korean investors and expatriates in the country.
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and KCCPI president Jae Jang signed last Wednesday a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to formalize their partnership and cooperation in servicing the immigration requirements of the thousands of South Koreans now doing business or are working in the Philippines.
Libanan hailed the agreement as an important milestone as it would encourage South Korean businessmen and tourists entering the country to comply with the country’s immigration laws and regulations and pay their fees, thus generating more revenues for the government.
BI statistics show last year alone, more than 700,000 South Koreans entered the country either as tourists, expatriates, students or businessmen.
South Koreans also account for the biggest number of foreigners who arrived in the country over the last few years.
Libanan said the accord is the BI’s way of reciprocating the millions of dollars in aid and investment that the South Korean government and business community have poured into the country.
He also cited South Korea’s policy of opening its labor market to overseas Filipino workers, more than 5,000 of whom are now working there, mostly as domestic helpers and factory workers.
Under the MoA, the BI and KCCPI agreed to form a joint committee that will meet regularly to discuss issues and concerns affecting South Koreans in the Philippines.
The BI also agreed to inform the KCCPI of any investigation, arrest and detention of a member of the chamber by the bureau’s operatives and legal officers so that the concerned South Korean could be provided with legal assistance.
For its part, the chamber promised to inform and educate its members, including their spouses and dependents, about Philippine immigration laws and latest regulations, memoranda rules and regulations issued by the BI through the conduct of seminars where BI officials would serve as resource persons.
While the KCCPI promised to respect the BI’s mandate as chief enforcer of immigration laws, the bureau will also uphold the rights of the chamber’s members and extend to them due courtesy as legitimate investors in the country, the MoA stated. Conrado Ching
____________________________________________________________________
