Perhaps our government officials will see this complaint and do something about it:
Thank God I only have to do business at the local Immigration Office once a year — the place depresses and embarrasses me!
The state of their office is a shame to Dumaguete and our country. The office is located at the end of an untidy corridor in a small depressing dimly-lit room without windows, in a small dreary crowded one-story building housing a varied mix of small businesses, including a carinderia, along Locsin Street. The roof above the narrow corridor has always leaked, and, assailed by a host of unpleasant smells, the visitor has to dodge puddles on the floor when it rains.
The hardworking staff has woefully outgrown their office space. While the secretaries’ desk has always disappeared under piles of paperwork, I noticed on my last recent visit more piles of un-filed paperwork on chairs and other furniture in full view of the public.
When I commented on this, I was told that they have absolutely run out of space for files, and have no more room in the building to expand their office.
I’ve seen the place crowded with foreigners (visitors, tourists, retirees, students) forced to transact business inconveniently in less than professional-looking surroundings. Is this the face our government wishes to show these people from outside our country?
While whereas in the past, there may not have been many foreigners here needing the services of an Immigration officer, Dumaguete today has hundreds of foreigners needing his help: students, retirees, tourists, other visitors.
The revenue they contribute to the government must be substantial. The Philippines and Dumaguete owes it to them (and to our sense of pride) to provide a more decent, pleasant, comfortable professional-looking place for doing business. We call it courtesy.
Myrna Pena-Reyes Sweet
Daro, Dumaguete City
