BI holds talks with ASEAN partners on immigration issues

August 31 ------ Top officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) met with their Southeast Asian counterparts in Singapore and discussed a wide range of immigration and consular issues.

It was the first face-to-face gathering of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) immigration chiefs since the outbreak of Covid-19 more than two years ago. BI Acting Commissioner Rogelio D. Gevero, Jr. said the forum gave the participants the chance to discuss regional and International cooperations on various travel issues like border security and issuance of travel papers. Gevero said he was instructed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to establish good relations with ASEAN partners to strengthen border management in the region.

The 25th conference of the Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) was attended by more 100 delegates. Singapore Minister for Communication and Information Josephine Teo stressed during the meeting the importance of maintaining regional connectivity to curb the spread of diseases in the region. The DGICM also held separate dialogues with representatives from Australia, China, Japan and South Korea during the three-day conference. Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs also attended the gathering.

Source: mb.com.ph