Senate ratifies immigration law, easing rules on foreigners

The Senate on Friday ratified the Philippine Immigration Act of 2009, helping amend policies that will make it easier for foreigners to visit and engage in business in the country. The law, which will also strengthen and modernize the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, will also create a border control division that will protect the Philippines’ 32,000-kilometer shoreline. Lawmakers ratified the amendment before the Senate went into a sine die adjournment signaling the end of the 14th Congress. The adjournment was attended by 13 senators, with Liberal Party's Manuel Roxas and Benigno Aquino III failing to show up. In February, a bicameral conference committee reconciled the Senate's and House of Representatives' versions of the bill. Before Senate Bill 3404 was ratified, Immigration chief Marcelino Libanan - in an interview with Senate reporters - emphasized the importance of ratifying the measure in enhancing both the country's security and tourism. "Napaka-importante nito sa ating bansa at ako ay nagagalak na nabigyan ito ng pansin ng ating mga mambabatas," he said. (This is important for our country and I am glad that lawmakers have given it their attention.) The law creating the Bureau of Immigration was enacted in 1940 and was signed by then US President Franklin Roosevelt. The ratified measure seeks to empower the bureau in helping spur economic development by attracting more foreign investors in the country. The bureau has been given a one-year period to draw up the law’s implementing rules and regulations, Libanan said. In a related development, Libanan said he would push through with his plan to file a courtesy resignation as Immigration chief once a new president is proclaimed. "[Ito ay] para mabigyan siya ng free hand at magtalaga siya ng gusto niyang i-appoint," Libanan said. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV