The Philippine government has listed the immigration modernization bill as one of the priority bills.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Immigration Bureau praised the government for making the immigration modernization bill one of the priority bills for the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"The timing of the new law could not be better. This landmark legislation reflects the Marcos administration's commitment to strengthening national security and combating illegal activities," Immigration Director Norman Tancenko said in a statement.

Tancinko made the remarks after Marcos marked the bill as one of the priority bills enacted by Congress in his second State of the Union address (SONA).

Once enacted, the USCIS will obtain measures to purchase and maximize the use of advanced tools and technologies that are expected to improve systems and procedures within the country.

The INS cited how the new infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities could help officers detect and combat human trafficking, illegal border operations and other illegal activities.

Tancinko said earlier that the passage of the new law was another step toward the president's vision of a new Philippines.

Tancinko also made an urgent call for the passage of the bill, given the growing threat of global human trafficking programs.

He said priority should be given to modernization to ensure strict measures are taken to protect Filipino workers and travelers and to provide convenience for foreign tourists.

Initially, the USCIS launched the online platform eServices as part of its digitization efforts.

The platform provides convenient and secure online application and payment options for foreigners.

However, Tancinco argues that several provisions in the current 82-year-old Philippine immigration law are outdated for modern needs.

Meanwhile, the modernization bill passed the House on May 29 and is now ready for Senate review.