BI officials, employees reiterate support to new immigration bill

More than 500 officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reiterated their support to the proposed new immigration bill pending before both houses of Congress.

In a position paper spearheaded by the officers and members of the Buklod ng mga Kawani ng CID (Buklod), the employees manifested and declared their wholehearted support to the proposed Philippine Immigration Act of 2009.

Leticia Fatalla, president of Buklod, said they successfully lobbied for the inclusion in the proposed measure a provision that will ensure that all the present employees, including temporary and casual, will be absorbed once the bill becomes a law.

She cited Section 127 of House Bill 6568 where it provides that all incumbent officials and employees of the bureau covered by the civil service law and regulations shall be absorbed by the authority.

“We thanked Commissioner Marcelino Libanan for pushing to lawmakers that our proposal be included in the pending measure,” Fatalla said, adding the rank-and-file are looking forward for the approval of the bill.

Fatalla said the security of tenure of all government officials and employees is well protected by Republic Act 6656 or an act to protect the security of tenure of civil service officers and employees in the implementation of government reorganization.

BI legal officer Henry Tubban Jr. said the bill has undergone several consultations among the bureau’s officials and employees, especially on staffing pattern during the committee meetings.

“In the first place, the bill was pending not only in the 14th Congress but also during the 11th, 12th and 13th Congresses where the merits and demerits of the bill were thoroughly discussed by the lawmakers and resource persons from agencies concerned. It was during the time of House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that the bill got some push from lawmakers, both from the administration and the opposition,” Tubban stressed.

He explained officials and employees of the bureau are given updates on the progress of the bill during their regular Monday flag-raising ceremonies and the weekly management meetings.  –Conrado Ching, Daily Tribune