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UNDER
the agreement forged on April 10, 2007, between the
Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Bureau of Investments
(BOI), the BI may issue temporary visitor’s visas (TVVs)
upon arrival to foreign businessmen at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport
and Davao International Airport as endorsed by the BOI,
and as requested by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (PCCI) or the Foreign Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (FCCI). The FCCI pertains to the
established chambers of commerce of various countries
operating in the country.
The
BOI, through its one-stop action center, must transmit
to the BI’s Makati extension office the complete
applications for TVVs endorsed by the PCCI or FCCI at
least 48 hours before the scheduled date of arrival of
the applicant.
Requests for TVVs from the top 1,000 corporations will
be coursed through the PCCI or FCCI.
The BI
will act on TVV applications within 24 hours; and, at
least 24 hours before the applicant departs from the
point of origin, the different international airports
will be advised on the action taken.
The BI
will provide special lanes in both BI arrival and
departure areas to the beneficiaries of the program. The
applicant will pay $25 and P10 upon arrival.
This
memorandum of agreement (MOA) is consistent with BI
Memorandum Circular AFF-06-016 dated October 16, 2006,
and its implementing rules and regulations.
In a
supplemental MOA, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Indian Chamber of
Commerce, Korean Chamber of Commerce, and the Taiwan
Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be collectively
referred to as the FCCI for the purpose of the program.
Hernandez said the effect of the MOA is also being felt
in the increase in investments in the IT sector, which
is the special interest of Indian businessmen, and in
other industries such as mining, tourism and property
development, which are the targets of Chinese investors
here.
Hernandez said the BOI supports the program of the BI
“as long as it will facilitate the entry of legitimate
businessmen into the country.”
In a
separate interview, Ferdinand Arbas, BI technical staff
chief, said the visa-upon-arrival program (VUAP) was
crafted when commissioner Marcelino Libanan assumed
office on May 2007. It was conceptualized after BI kept
receiving reports about fake visas issued to foreigners
coming in to the country, and issued in certain
diplomatic posts of the DFA abroad, which he did not
identify.
He
claimed at least two consular posts of the Philippines
in India had been stripped of the power to issue visas
to Indian nationals after fraudulent Philippine visas
were traced to them.
“Our
intention here is to liberalize the policy of
immigration,” Arbas said, echoing his boss’s policy
direction of merging security and business in the
agency’s mandate. Libanan had explained at length about
his “probusiness” thrust in a speech before the consular
corps last June 25.
Arbas
explained that the 3-year period being granted to
foreigners does not mean that the grantee stays here for
three years.
“Upon
arrival, they would be given 90-day visas, if they want
to stay, then they have to apply for an extension, and
normally, we give only 2 months extension,” Arbas said.
His claim was belied, however, by numerous orders,
signed by Libanan’s trusted aide Atty. Edgardo Mendoza,
clearly stating the grant of three-year visas, to
hundreds of foreigners ahead of their arrival in the
country.
Arbas
said the program requires that the potential investors
should be sponsored by a local organization in the
Philippines such as the Philippine Chinese Chamber of
Commerce if the applicant is a Chinese national or if an
Indian national, the Indian Chamber of Commerce. It is
the same guideline that the BOI acknowledges, based on
its MOA with Immigration.
However, copies of the orders signed by Mendoza in
BusinessMirror’s possession showed many visa recipients
were not endorsed by business chambers, but by
“friendship” or community associations like the Punjabi
Phils. Inc. based in Zamboanga City, the Nanak Darbar
Iloilo and the Cebu-Indian Friendship Association.
The
visas are issued “provided they are not members of any
syndicated group in their country of origin, not
fugitive of their country, and would not violate
immigration and Philippine law,” Arbas said.
Arbas
explained that the pre-arranged visa is needed because
the grantee will not be allowed to board an airline
unless he has secured the necessary documents from the
immigration and the sponsoring organization.
Arbas
cited various organizations and government agencies
which have availed themselves of the VUAP since it was
implemented. For multiple entry, he cited Consul
General Guo Shachun of the embassy of People’s Republic
of China and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (Tesda) as sponsors.
For
single entry, he cited the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Bureau of Soils ands
Water Management, Lupon ng mga Laro sa Libangan,
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction;
Deutsche Bank AG (Manila), Asosasyon ng Musikong
Pilipino Foundation Inc., Office of Representative
Herminigildo Mandanas and the embassy of the Islamic
Republic of Iran. -- MV de Leon, Paul Atienza |
