MANILA, Philippines – Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison, in a statement disclosed that the bureau’s revenue for 2013 reached P2,985,641,950; BI’s highest since its creation in 1940.
Mison reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to improve its services, as well as upgrade its equipment and facilities to world standard with its limited budget, even as it has generated its highest annual income ever.
Last year’s revenue increased by P245, 476,479 from P2, 740,165,471 yearend totals in 2012.
Mison credited the record collection of immigration tax and non-tax fees to improved and expedited services to foreigners at BI’s main and satellite offices.
Tax collection totaled P72, 869,666; non-tax charges including services, fines and penalties amounted to P2, 853,188,665 and ACR I-Card fees reached P130, 107,777.
As a rule, BI’s revenue goes to the National Treasury and reported to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Mison, at the same time, noted that the bureau has received the highest percentage increase in appropriated funds for fiscal year 2014.
The BI, which is among ten Department of Justice (DOJ) attached agencies, has an approved budget of P650, 677 million under the 2014 General Appropriations Act (Republic Act 10633).
Mison said the BI 2014 budget, which reflects a 14.48 percent or P356 million increase, from last year’s P568 billion, will be devoted to the upgrading BI’s border control system at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), other airports and seaports.
The bureau is set to purchase P70 million worth of computer and equipment, including biometric machines, under its modernization and automation program.
The immigration commissioner reiterated his leadership’s continuing program to professionalize the BI personnel and eradicate graft and corruption at its head office and satellite offices.
