THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) attended the first ever Tokyo Immigration Forum which was held in hybrid format.
The forum, held last March 2 and 3, 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.
The Japan Minister of Justice delivered his opening remarks, in which his expressed his expectation for stronger cooperation between countries and regions, while the Japan Commissioner of Immigration Services Agency discussed the importance of achieving immigration control and taking measures against Covid-19.
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 Covid-19 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.