THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has further eased rules on foreign tourists by allowing them to immediately avail themselves of an extended length of stay upon arrival, it was learned Thursday.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said from now on any national categorized as a “no-visa required” temporary visitor may be granted an initial allowable stay of 59 days, instead of the previous 21 days, which privilege may be applied for at the airport of entry. There is, however, still the required visa fee of $50, a P500 express-lane fee and P10 legal research fee.

Libanan added only so-called no-visa required nationals can avail themselves of the privilege. These refer to Americans, Britons, Japanese and Canadians.

National of these countries have been admitted for an initial period of 21 days upon their arrival previous to the new order and had to apply for an extension at the main immigration office if they wish to stay longer.

Libanan expects the new rules to “definitely encourage more tourists to prolong their stay as they no longer have to go to the BI office to secure a visa waiver if they wish to stay here for more than 21 days.”

In a related immigration affair, a Chinese man and his son who hurt and insulted an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were ordered banned from the country.

Floro Balato Jr., immigration spokesman, said Libanan ordered the blacklisting of 42-year-old Jin Dong and his 15-year-old son, Zhiyu Dong, who both shouted invectives and insulting remarks at Leni Maminta at the immigration departure counter.

The incident happened on February 14 as Dong and his son were queuing for clearance at the departure counter manned by Maminta.

Maminta reported the elder Chinese, without any reason or provocation, suddenly slapped her upper right arm so hard that she sustained an ugly bruise. He then pointed his finger at her and shouted words in Chinese that she could not understand but surmised from his tone as angry words.

Maminta then told the passenger to go back to his line but his son, who could speak English, scolded her and said: “You are only a woman. Don’t fight with my father. You are impolite.”

This prompted Maminta to call the attention of her duty supervisor, who sought the help of airport policemen in pacifying the foreigners.

Don’t be alarmed by troop movements

GEN. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, on Thursday advised the public not to be alarmed by troop movements in Metro Manila as the military has been called to augment the police in maintaining peace during the planned protest action on Monday in Metro Manila to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the first people power revolt.

THE Armed Forces is closely following the developments in the political front but assured that it will never break away from the duly constituted government.

WHILE Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. enjoys vast support from political and religious groups and civil society,

ALTHOUGH the call-center attrition rate is 5 percent to 10 percent and lower than its neighboring-outsourcing countries, business-process outsourcing (BPO) executives are determined to reduce it by addressing its deep-rooted causes through leadership training.

DAVAO CITY—Owners of many idle lands in downtown Davao and suburbs would get to meet the many call-center operators in Manila and Cebu looking at relocating or expanding their operation here in a forum aimed at bridging the information gap between them.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) acknowledged there is not much it can do about foreign banks selling dollar-denominated insurance policies to residents and having the transaction consummated abroad.

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has further eased rules on foreign tourists by allowing them to immediately avail themselves of an extended length of stay upon arrival, it was learned Thursday.