Immigration bureau halts issuance of special working permits to foreigners

The Bureau of Immigration announced it would temporarily halt the issuance of special working permits to foreign workers for certain jobs amid the influx of foreigners who were observed to be taking jobs of Filipinos.

In a hearing of the labor committee at the Senate, it was disclosed that the bureau had issued around 180,000 special working permits to foreign workers in the last 11 months, according to a report by GMA News' Jam Sisante-Cayco aired over “24 Oras” on Thursday,.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente announced the halt in issuing special working permits after Senator Joel Villanueva questioned him over a satellite office of the bureau in Taguig, which issues special working permits to foreign workers for a P5,000 fee without issuing any receipt.

"I have initiated the review of the frontline transaction of the SM Aura office. They will not be involved in [issuing] special work permits, working visa," Morente said.

This did not sit well with Villanueva.

"Ang problema hindi lang kasi petiks, may lagayan din udyok ng mga fast lane sa mga satellite office ng Bureau of Immigration,” Villanueva said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III assured the public that Filipinos will be prioritized in job opportunities in the country.

"Bago mag-issue 'yung aming regional offices ng AEP (Alien Employment Permit), there will be a publication na merong nag-apply na worker na ganitong trabaho. Ngayon, kung may Pilipinong mag-object na uy, hindi [puede], kaya ko 'yan, then we will not issue an AEP,” Bello said. —Llanesca Panti/ LDF, GMA News