MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to loosen its policy on jet-setting Chinese tourists and allow them to enter the country without visas and remain for seven days.
Currently, the only foreign nationals allowed into the Philippines without visas for three weeks are citizens of the nine other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan Sunday said President Arroyo gave him the order to let in Chinese tourists without visas last week before she left for Washington for her meeting with US President Barack Obama.
The new policy, he said, was “in accordance with the government’s program to promote and encourage tourism development in the country.”
Libanan said he had issued a memorandum circular on the new policy to all BI outposts and satellite offices.
“With this new policy, we expect more Chinese businessmen and tourists to visit the Philippines and explore investment opportunities, thus opening up more job opportunities for our countrymen,” he said in a statement.
He said those exempted from the visa requirement are Chinese nationals with valid visas issued by the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada or the European Union.
Floro Balato Jr., BI spokesperson, noted that Chinese who frequently traveled to developed countries like the US and Japan were mostly businessmen who could bring investments into the Philippines.
Balato said the new visa rule was part of the immigration bureau’s efforts “to liberalize its policies on the entry of nationals from fast developing countries like China.”
“(U)nder Libanan’s stewardship, the BI has embarked on various innovative programs aimed at boosting tourism and attracting foreign investments,” he said.
Among the new programs the BI has implemented is the special visa for employment generation, which allows foreign businessmen to stay in the country indefinitely, provided their companies employ at least 10 Filipino regular workers. –Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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