MANILA – The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) attended the first-ever Tokyo Immigration Forum last March 2 and 3.
The forum, which was held in hybrid format, was organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
It was attended by senior immigration officials from 18 countries including Australia, Canada, Korea, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam. Representatives from the BI, coming from three different offices, attended the event virtually.
Japan’s minister of justice delivered his opening remarks, in which he expressed his expectation for stronger cooperation between countries and regions, while the Commissioner of Immigration Services Agency discussed the importance of achieving immigration control and taking measures against the novel coronavirus.
During the agenda on issues associated with the movement of foreign workers and responses, Dennis Javier, Deputy Chief for Operations of the BI’s Port Operation Division, discussed the country’s policies amidst the pandemic.
He shared how the Philippines was constrained to implement travel restrictions that prevented the entry of several classes of foreign nationals, in compliance with the direction of the national government to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the forum served as an avenue to coordinate with counterparts abroad.
“We are happy to have been part of the first-ever Tokyo Immigration Forum. It was a historic event that serves as the start of greater cooperation among immigration agencies worldwide,” he stated. - PR
