The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have joined forces to streamline and reinforce government efforts against illegal aliens through a new data-sharing agreement.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco signed the agreement that aims to establish a framework for real-time data exchange between the two agencies.

Based on the terms of the agreement, DOLE will supply BI with full data on foreign nationals issued alien employment permits (AEP), certificates of exemption and exclusion, as well as information on canceled and revoked AEPs and certificates of exemption.

“Eventually, the manual verification will be a thing of the past, and the AEPs of the DOLE and the BI system through the application programming interface will expand our exchanges of information and will result in streamlining the processes of both agencies,” Laguesma said.

For his part, Tansingco said the data will help BI verify the data given by applicants seeking to convert or extend their working visas.

“The primary objective of this collaborative effort is to ensure that only legitimate foreign workers, duly vetted by DOLE, are granted work visas and permits in the Philippines,” said Tansingco.

The AEP, a mandatory requirement for foreign nationals applying for work visas, is critical to ensuring the labor market's integrity and security.

“We thank our partners from the DOLE for their continuous support in the efforts to improve the system. Through this agreement, both the BI and the DOLE will be able to better enforce our mandates,” he added.

Tansingco also announced that 9G working visa applications will be processed online starting June 1.