Sunday, December 24, 2006
Bureau of Immigration 7 posts rise in revenues
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) 7 was able to collect P207 million this year, or P55 million more than last year.
This can be attributed to the steadily increasing number of foreign travelers and aliens who extend their stay in Cebu because they either study short courses or engage in business or practice their profession.
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BI 7 Director Geronimo Rosas said revenue has been rising since 2001.
I-Card
This year, the BI 7 also earned P14 million in fees from the newly introduced I-Card, which prevents or eradicates tampering of travel documents.
Rosas said overstaying aliens voluntarily showed up and paid extension fees and penalties after the agency implemented the law with compassion by allowing them to correct their violations instead of arresting and deporting them.
In the past, aliens who overstayed went into hiding for fear of arrest, deportation and blacklisting, especially those who already have families here.
Advantage
The advantage for an overstaying alien who voluntarily surrenders and pays fees for extension of stay and penalties is that they will not be blacklisted.
Most of the tourists who come to Central Visayas are South Koreans and Japanese, followed by Australians, Americans, Germans, Taiwanese, Italians and Hong Kong Chinese.
In an earlier interview, Moon Chang Nam, president of the Cebu Koreans Association, said his countrymen come to Cebu and other areas in the Visayas because there are direct flights between Cebu and South Korea. The region also boasts of several tourist spots, entertainment centers and is a good environment for business, Nam said.
Breakdown
Of the P207 million collected, P166.5 million came from the Mandaue City immigration office; P117.3 million from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport; P6.4 million from the Bohol immigration office; and P16.7 million from the Dumaguete immigration office.
Some P30.3 million in express lane fees was also collected.
Rosas is confident that their revenue next month will balloon due to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and the Sinulog, an annual activity in Cebu City that attracts tourists worldwide. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (December 24, 2006 issue)
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