BID keeps eye on Koreans
An advisory is now out from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) here aimed at establishing the exact number of Korean nationals present in Iloilo. While an over-all accounting is currently made on other foreigners as well, Noel Ojoy, BID regional office 6 Alien Control Officer confirmed to The News Today (TNT) that the Bureau has issued a separate Memorandum on the matter.
Korean nationals, Ojoy disclosed, comprise the most number of foreigners in Western Visayas in general and Iloilo in particular. Albeit about 4,000 were recorded in last year's record, exact number is believed to be higher.
On record, Iloilo has twenty tutorial centers duly accredited by the BID alongside fourteen schools and universities offering English language courses. Each course normally has a duration of three months though TNT was informed of home-based private tutorials with a per hour pay of P60 to P100 to the private tutors.
The Bureau's advisory has since been issued to the said accredited schools however Ojoy added that to date there is a need to press for current reporting to the BID. Asked of any violators or tutorial schools who accept Korean nationals minus Special Study Permits, Ojoy said none has been discovered thus far. However the Bureau is on the constant look-out, he assured.
Influx of Korean nationals in Iloilo was highest last week of December and first week of this month. What remains to be validated is whether these visiting foreigners will secure an extension of their stay from the usual 21 days granted by the Philippine Government.
A Special Study Permit is issued by the BID on Korean applicants who wish to enroll for an English language course. As a prerequisite, the Bureau only allows enrollment in duly accredited schools and centers that likewise ensures monitoring of the Korean nationals here.
As such, Ojoy calls on all interested Korean students to check on the accreditation of centers and schools they wish to affiliate with. Same stern message to the management of tutorial centers that have mushroomed throughout the city.
Interestingly enough with hundreds of Korean nationals seen in Iloilo, the BID only has 60 applicants currently on record. Ojoy said the others may still be under the legally granted Philippine Immigration visa.