BI tightens screening on foreigners from Cambodia, Vietnam

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco ordered frontline personnel to tighten screening of foreigners from Cambodia and Vietnam.

Tansingco, who conducted ocular inspections at the BI’s frontline operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday, instructed immigration officers to immediately refer for secondary inspection foreign nationals who have doubtful purpose of travel to the country.

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The move follows reports from local law enforcement agencies of an uptick on kidnappings, and extortion activities from syndicates hailing from the said countries.

Said kidnappings were subject of an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs last week.

“This is how immigration works,” said Tansingco. “We look at arrival trends and look for patterns. Our partnership with other law enforcement agencies allows us to see whether there is a need to tighten measures on certain types of travelers,” he added.

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He shared that the BI’s endeavor to implement the advance passenger information system would allow the agency to better look at the trends and implement measures for border security.


Marcos invites US businesses to invest in PH

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr encouraged investors in New York to invest in the Philippines, which he says will become a middle-income country in a few years.

On the second day of his 6-day visit to the United States, the President said his interaction with the NYSE was a “very important opportunity” to share with businessmen how the government is strengthening the economy after the pandemic.

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Marcos also boasted that the Philippine economy has shown steady growth and is on its way to becoming an “upper-middle-income country status” that can be achieved in the next few years.

He said for investors, doing business in the Philippines is an opportunity to reap the benefits of a vibrant economy.

He also cited major laws that further liberalize the economy, which include lowering corporate income tax rates and rationalizing fiscal incentives; reducing the minimum paid-up capital requirement for foreign retailers; and allowing full foreign ownership of companies that provide public services.

Marcos rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, September 19 (Tuesday, September 20, Manila time), signaling the end of the trading day at the NYSE.

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