Bureau of Immigration or BI

The Bureau of Immigration or (BI) is principally responsible for the administration

and enforcement of immigration, citizenship, and alien admission and registration

laws in accordance with the provisions of the Philippine Immigration Act of

1940.The bureau of Immigration was given the sole authority to enforce and

administer immigration and foreign nationals registration laws including the

admission, registration, exclusion and deportation and repatriation of foreign

nationals. The head of bureau of Immigration is Chief, Rogelio D. Gevero, Jr. Chief,

Fortunato S. Manahan, Jr. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plays a

central role in administering the immigration system of the United States.

Administration of immigration benefits is the responsibility of U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS).

The board of immigration is the body tasked by law to determine whether to

deport a foreign national or not. Immigration officers are trained and always on

alert especially during the holidays when a big influx of foreign visitors and

balikbayans are expected to fill most airports and seaports in the country.
GENERAL FUNCTIONS
01
Acts as the primary enforcement arm of the Department of Justice

and the President of the Philippines in ensuring that all foreigners

within its territorial jurisdiction comply with existing laws.

02 Assists local and international law enforcement agencies in

securing the tranquility of the state against foreigners whose

presence or stay may be deemed threats to national security,

public safety, public morals and public health and.

Acts as chief repository of all immigration records pertaining

03
to entry, temporary sojourn, admission, residence and

departure of all foreigners in the country.

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
In the discharge of its broad functions, the Bureau through its Board of Commissioners,

exercises administrative and quasi-judicial powers over the. Regulation of the entry

(arrival), stay (sojourn), and exit (departure) of foreign nationals in the country.

Monitoring of the entry and exit of Filipino citizens in compliance with Philippine laws

and other legal procedures;

Issuance of immigration documents and identification certifications on non-immigrant,

immigrant and special non-immigrant visas.

Issuance of special permits in relation to the enforcement of immigration laws (e.g.

Special

Work Permit (SWP), Provisional Permit to Work (PPW), Special Study Permit (SSP), re-

entry permits, clearances, etc.

Extension of stay of temporary visitors and implementation of changes of status

as provided by law.

Administrative determination of citizenship and related status;

Investigation, hearing, decision and execution of orders pertaining to exclusion,

deportation, andrepatriation of foreign nationals.

Implementation of Hold Departure Orders, Blacklist, Watchlist, Immigration

Lookout Bulletin Ordersand Alert List Orders;

Cancellation of immigration documents upon violation of immigration laws and

procedures.

Investigation, arrests and detention of foreigners in violation of immigration

regulation and other Philippine laws.

Accreditation of schools and learning institutions that can officially

accept and enroll foreign students.

Accreditation of law firms, liaison officers, travel agencies and other

individuals and organizations transacting with the Bureau of

Immigration.
Bureau Of Custom or BOC
The bureau of custom is to Established in 1902, the Bureau of Customs or BOC

of the Philippines is the government agency that enables trade, collects duties

and taxes, and protects the nation against the entry of illegal materials.

Prevention and suppression of smuggling and other frauds upon the customs.

Supervision and control over the entrance and clearance of vessels and

aircraft engaged in foreign commerce. Enforcement of the tariff and customs

laws and all other laws, rules and regulations relating to the tariff and customs

administration.

The Bureau of Customs is headed by the Customs Commissioner. He is

assisted by six Deputy Commissioners, one Assistant Commissioner and

seventeen District Collectors who supervise the country’s principal ports of

entry.
The function of Bureau of Custom or

BOC
Internal Administration Group (IAG).
Under a Deputy Commissioner, this group assists the Commissioner in the

formulation of policies and in the setting up of objectives relative to financial,

administrative, personnel, planning and management improvement services of

the BOC; represents the Commissioner in meetings and conferences; signs

memorandum circulars; and reviews official communications and documents

relevant to internal administration.

Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG).

Under a Deputy Commissioner, this group maintains an accounting of

revenues collected; administers the legal requirements of the BOC; provides

information and analysis of collection statistics; and audits liquidated entries

and bonds.
 Assessment and Operations Coordination Group (AOCG).
Under a Deputy Commissioner, this group gathers and publishes values of

commodities imported into the country; and monitors implementation of rules

and regulations governing assessment, end processing of goods for exports,

warehousing and support operations, and auction and disposal activities.

Intelligence Group (IG).

Under a Deputy Commissioner, this group gathers intelligence information

related to Customs and economic activities; conducts internal inquiry and

investigation; and develop effective countermeasures to combat corruption,

smuggling, and other forms of customs fraud.

Enforcement Group (EG).

Under a Deputy Commissioner, this group exercises police authority to secure

the country’s ports and BOC installations; and to protect cargoes and

properties inside the customs zone.

 Management Information System and Technology Group

(MISTG).
The implementation of BOC’s computerization program

necessitated the creation of MISTG on January 9, 1998 under

Executive Order No. 463. The need for the creation of a greatly

expanded IT group was already reflected in the 1992 ISP as a

support to the aim for BOC to assume direct management and

control of IT facilities and services after the conclusion of the

transitional facilities management arrangements under the PTCP

contract. MISTG is headed by a Deputy Commissioner who is

responsible for overall supervision of the different operating units.

 Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG).Customs Memorandum

Order (CMO) No. 32-2017 reactivates the Post Clearance

Audit Group (PCAG) formerly known as Post Entry Audit

Group (PEAG).
PEAG was created in 2003 under EO 160-2003 and tasked to

perform post-clearance audit work of the Bureau of Customs. In

2013, the functions of PEAG was transferred to the Department of

Finance until President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO No. 46 on

October 2017 returning the post-clearance audit function to the

BOC. PCAG is headed by an Assistant Commissioner who has direct

supervision and control over the management of the operating

units of PCAG, which include the Trade Information and Risk

Analysis Office and Compliance Assessment Office.

 Collection Districts.
Each District is headed by a District Collector of Customs and

collects duties, taxes and other charges accruing to the

government; exercises police powers; supervises the

entrance and clearance of vessels engaged in commerce;

supervises and controls handling of foreign mail; and

supervises all import and export cargoes and freight stations.

Optical Media Board or

OMB
The Optical Media Board or OBM regulates the

mastering, manufacturing, importation and

exportation of optical media products and

manufacturing materials as part of ensuring the

protection and promotion of intellectual

property rights.
The function of Optical Media Board or OMB

Evaluate the qualifications of any individual, establishment or

other entity to engage in the mastering, manufacture or

replication of optical media. For this purpose, the OMB shall

require such person to substantiate its capability to engage in

said activities;

Supervise regulate, grant, or renew licenses for specific periods,

or deny, suspend, or cancel the same, subject to such conditions

as it may impose, for the activities enumerated in Section 13.

Conduct inspections, by itself or in coordination with other

competence agencies of the government, at anytime, with or without

prior notice, of establishments or entities including those within the

economic zones engaged in the activities as provided in Section 13 of

this Act, and employ reasonable force in the event that the responsible

person or persons of such establishment or entity evades, obstructs, or

refuses such inspection. For this purpose, the agents of the OMB shall

be considered agents in authority;

Apply for or obtain search warrants from any court of law, or take into

preventive custody any optical media and/or material or equipment,

including parts, accessories and paraphernalia used for the mastering,

manufacture or replication of optical media which are found in any

premises if the OMB has reasonable ground to believe or suspect that

these are evidence of violation of the provisions of this Act;

Apply for or obtain search warrants from any court of law, or take into

preventive custody any optical media and/or material or equipment, including

parts, accessories and paraphernalia used for the mastering, manufacture or

replication of optical media which are found in any premises if the OMB has

reasonable ground to believe or suspect that these are evidence of violation of

the provisions of this Act;

Act as complainant in the criminal prosecution of violators of this Act;

Hear and resolve administrative cases against violators of this Act and impose

administrative sanctions including, but not limited to, the imposition of fines and

penalties; confiscation of optical media; and suspension, non-renewal or

cancellation of the license to operate and/or closure of establishments or

entities that violate the provisions of this Act. For this purpose, the Board shall

have the power to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to compel the

attendance of witnesses and production of documents and other effects;

Call upon law enforcement agencies and the managing authorities in the

economic zones for assistance in the implementation and enforcement of its

decisions, orders, rules and regulations;

To deputize, whenever necessary, provincial governors, city and municipal

mayors, and representatives of the national government agencies,

organizations representing copyright owners, neighboring rights owners and

concerned sectors to help monitor compliance with and report to the OMB

any violation of this Act;

Require persons, establishments and entities engaged in the activities in

Section 13 to keep and maintain for a period of at least five years true and

complete records of all activities related to the conduct of its business. For

this purpose, the Board may, at any time, require the production of such

records and samples of optical media from each mastering, manufacturing or

replicating line;
Levy, assess and collect, and periodically adjust and/or revise the rates of

fees and charges for the issuance of licenses granted under this Act;

Establish support offices as may be necessary;

Create and maintain a database, and regularly publish data containing the list and

activities of registered and/or licensed optical media and other related

establishments. Any enforcement agency, including the Bureau of Customs, may

refer to this database for enforcement and/or seizure;

Prescribe the internal and operational procedures for the exercise of its powers

and functions, the performance of its duties and responsibilities and other related

matters; and

Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary or incidental to

the attainment of the purposes and objectives of this Act, and to perform other

related duties and responsibilities as may be directed by the President.