CONSTITUTING AN AIRPORT OPERATIONS DIVISION (AOD) IN THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is principally responsible
for the administration and enforcement of immigration, citizenship and
alien admission and registration laws, with the Immigration Commissioner
exercising overall authorities in matters within the Bureau’s
jurisdiction, including those relating to its operations and the
enforcement of all laws and regulations pertaining thereto (Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended; Section 29, Chapter 6, Book IV of the Administrative Code of 1987, Executive Order (EO) No. 292, series of 1987).

WHEREAS, with the Philippines’ assent to the United Nations
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the passage of
various legislations, notably the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, the
Migrant Workers Act, and the Human Security Act, as well as the issuance
of Executive Order No. 759, series of 2008, creating the Task Force
Against illegal Recruitment (TFAIR), the Bureau of Immigration is
mandated to assume additional multifarious functions, duties and
responsibilities, particularly in the country’s international ports of
entry and exit.

WHEREAS, the Bureau has implemented a program aimed at decentralizing
its powers and functions to specific geographical areas, sub-ports,
extension and satellite offices and has likewise streamlined its
procedures and systems for effective monitoring and efficient delivery
of immigration services;

WHEREAS, the existing organizational structure of the BI is no longer
responsive to the expanding role of the agency and the institutional
and organizational changes adopted and implemented;

WHEREAS, the Secretary of Justice, as alter ego of the
President of the Republic of the Philippines, exercises supervision and
control over the Bureau of Immigration as an agency of the Department of
Justice (Section 6 and 7, Chapter 2 and Section 39, Chapter 8, Book
IV, E.O. 292, series of 1987; Chapter 1, Title III, Book IV, EO 292,
series of 1987; Villena v. Secretary of the Interior, 67 Phil. 451, 464
[1939]);

WHEREFORE, foregoing premises considered and pursuant to the provisions of Section
7 (3 & 4), Chapter 2, and Section 20 (3), Chapter 4 of Book IV,
Executive Order No. 292, series of 1987, otherwise known as the
Administrative Code of 1987, in relation to Section 3 of C.A, No. 613,
otherwise known as the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, subject
to existing laws, and as recommended by the Commissioner of the Bureau
of Immigration, the following are hereby ordered promulgated:

SECTION 1. Creation – There is hereby created and constituted in the Bureau of Immigration, an AIRPORT OPERATIONS DIVISION (AOD) directly under the Office of the Commissioner.

SECTION 2. Purpose and Objectives – The AOD aims to
provide the Bureau with a division of qualified and competent officers
and personnel to perform enforcement and administration of immigration
laws functions in relation to its mandate under the Philippine
Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, within the immigration premises and
areas of the following international ports of entry/exit;

a. Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA);

a.1 Terminal I;
a.2 Centennial Terminal II;
a.3 International Passenger Terminal III;

b. Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA);
c. Tuguegarao City Airport (TCA);
d. Laoag International Airport (LIA);
e. Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA);
f. Kalibo International Airport (KIA);
g. Puerto Princesa Airport (P PA);
h. Davao International Airport (DIA);
i. Zamboanga International Seaport (ZIS); and
j. Such other airports and seaports which may hereafter be declared
as international ports of entry/exit and operated as such;

It also seeks to enhance the Bureau’s capability in the
implementation of the expeditious, simplified and effective system of
immigration controls for the entry and exit of passengers, including the
exclusion, offloading, apprehension, deportation and repatriation of
illegal entrants.

SECTION 3. Composition and Functions – [a] The AOD shall
be under the direct control and supervision by a Chief designated by the
Immigration Commissioner through appropriate Personnel Order and
subject to approval by the Secretary of Justice.

[b] Each airport and seaport operating as international port of
entry/exit shall be managed by a Head Supervisor who shall conduct the
day-to-day operations thereof with the following components units and
shall exercise their respective functions, duties and responsibilities
under existing laws, circulars, orders, memoranda, rules and
regulations, wit:

1. Intelligence Unit;
2. Law and Investigation Unit;
3. Law Enforcement Unit;
4. Civil Security Unit;
5. Computer Unit; and
6. Administrative Unit.

The personnel of the foregoing units shall be under the direct
operational control and supervision of the respective Head Supervisor; Provided, that
for purposes of efficient and proper coordination and monitoring, the
said units shall regularly furnish its respective Divisions with copies
of its accomplishment/performance reports and documents relevant to the
discharge of their functions, duties and responsibilities.

[c] The IMMIGRATION COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING GROUP (MCMG) created
by virtue of Memorandum Order No. MCL-07-004, dated 12 June 2007, and
the ARRIVAL DEPARTURE 9A/D0 CARD PROCESSING CENTERS established under
the Memorandum entitled “Proposed Administrative and Operating Guidelines for the Implementation of the New BIU Arrival/Departure 9a/D0 Card”, approved on 20 May 2009, shall be under the direct operational control and supervision of the chief of the AOD.

SECTION 4. Administrative Provisions – The
manpower compliment for the AOD and its component units shall be
filled-up from existing personnel of the various
divisions/sections/units/offices of the Bureau through appropriate
Personnel Orders issued by the Commissioner. Resources and other
logistical requirements shall be sourced out from existing
appropriations subject to the usual government accounting and auditing
rules and regulations.

SECTION 5. Authority of the Secretary of Justice –
Nothing in this Order shall be construed as a limitation on the power
and authority of the Secretary of Justice as provided under existing
laws.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause – All department orders,
circulars, issuances, or memoranda that are inconsistent with this Order
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause – This Order shall effect immediately.

Let copies of this Order be filed with the Office of the National
Administrative Register (ONAR), U. P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

Adopted: 10 July 2009

(SGD.) AGNES VST DEVANADERA
Acting Secretary