Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized the need for modernization in the Bureau of Immigration, citing his filed Senate Bill 1185, known as the proposed "Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act."

In an ambush interview on Thursday, 28 December, after aiding fire victims in Davao City, Go acknowledged the challenges of corruption in the bureaucracy.

The senator emphasized the correlation between low salaries, staff shortages, and corruption, advocating for improved wages and additional personnel to mitigate these problems in the bureaucracy.

Go noted past irregularities involving Immigration personnel, underscoring the urgency of the proposed reforms.

The senator's vision for the modernization of the BI includes enhancing services for overseas Filipino workers, who often require guidance and support.

He likewise criticized the exploitation of OFWs and the bureaucratic hurdles they face, emphasizing the need for proper guidance to ensure their safety and well-being.

Under the bill, coterminous positions are created for the Office of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners. New positions will also be created under the Directorate for Planning and Research, and Directorate for Human Resources Management and Development.

The creation of new positions under the bill, according to Go, could boost the productivity and efficiency of the BI.

Under the proposed measure, the Commissioner may also make changes in the composition, distribution, and assignment of field offices, as well as its personnel, based on the demographics of the foreign nationals and as the exigency of the service requires.

The bill also seeks to improve the salary grade, emoluments, and other benefits received by the bureau officials and employees to "properly compensate their hard work and to address the apparent disparity among agencies performing comparable functions," said Go.

If passed into law, the BI Board of Commissioners will be authorized to retain and use every year 30% of its collections from immigration fees, fines and penalties, and other income that may be collected by the bureau for the effective implementation of the measure towards modernization of the agency.