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What's On & Expat - Philippines

 

 APRIL 15-APRIL 21, 2007
   

 

    

Investors will get visa in 3 days
Agreement signed to ease investor visa application

 

By Agnes M. Abrau
 
 

Considered as a landmark agreement to attract foreign investments into the country, the Bureau of Investments (BOI), Bureau of Immigration (BI) and heads of different foreign chambers of commerce signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Pre-approved Visa upon Arrival Scheme, April 10. The MOA, which will take effect immediately, will speed up the visa application process of foreign investors to the country. The process shortens the length of visa application to three working days instead of the former 14 days. At the signing, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila, who is also the BOI chairman, said the reduced application process aims to attract investors and enhance mobility of business people so as to invigorate the investment environment.

Under the agreement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-BOI through the One Stop Action Center will transmit to the Makati City immigration applications of businessmen for the Temporary Visitor’s Visa not later than 48 hours or two working days before the scheduled date of arrival of the applicant through its duly authorized liaison officer.

The agreement also states that only complete applications for Temporary Visitor’s Visa endorsed by either the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) or the Foreign Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be transmitted to BI and requests for visas from the Top 1000 corporations will be coursed through either the PCCI or the foreign chamber of commerce. The BI’s Memorandum Circular no. AFF-06-016 allows the BI to issue Temporary Visitor’s Visa upon arrival in the country to foreign businessmen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Davao International Airport as requested by DTI-BOI and upon endorsement by either the PCCI or the foreign chamber of commerce.

The agreement further said that immigration authorities will issue the Temporary Visitor’s Visa upon arrival of the applicant, which shall be valid for a period of 30 days. This may be extended for another 30 days, prior to the expiry of the initial 30 days. Special lanes will be provided in both BI arrival and departure areas in the designated international airports to beneficiaries of the visa facilitation scheme. The visa application forms may be downloaded from the BOI’s website: www.boi.com.ph

Safe
BI Acting Commissioner Roy M. Almoro said this new scheme has all the safety nets. But, just like any agreement, it is open for changes or amendments. Secretary Favila, on the other hand, said the government will maintain “an open mind” on some changes as they go through with the implementation of the new pre-approved visa application. Favila called the new visa application process a clear sign “that the government is responsive to the needs of our friends overseas.” He also thanked the private sector, most specifically the foreign chambers of commerce, who worked with them for its speedy implementation. “Success of streamlining the bureaucracy happens when the private sector works hand in hand with the government,” he added.

Foreign chambers of commerce
Presidents of various foreign chambers of commerce in the Philippines hailed the signing of the new visa application process. Ram Sitaldas, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, assured government authorities that: “We will see to it that this pre-approved visa application will not be abused.” John K. Tan, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc., informed authorities that the Chinese business federation receives visitors from China every week. BOI Managing Head Elmer Hernandez said the Chinese represent a major sector of businessmen in the country followed by Indian nationals. He added that while this new visa scheme is only offered to foreign investors, the program might also be expanded that would involve other sectors of foreign visitors. Also present at the signing were representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce, Korean Chamber of Commerce and the PCCI.





 

 

 


 
 
 
 

Beaches remain top draw for Europeans to Cebu--Qatar exec

  
     
 
By Richard A. Ramos
  
     
 

NOT TOO SURPRISINGLY, the white-sand beaches of Cebu still remain the top tourist attraction for Europeans to come to Cebu via Qatar Airways. Arrivals are steeper especially during the winter season whereby the Europeans escape from the cold climate in their native countries and bask in the tropical weather in Cebu. More than just beach enthusiasts, the diving market has also accounted for an increasingly larger share due to the rich biodiversity situated mainly in the divespots in Cebu province.

According to Mary Rose Macapagal, district sales manager for Qatar Airways, European arrivals have increased as a whole to Cebu for the past few years ever since that airline has started its operations in Cebu in 2003. No specific figures were mentioned. Following an aircraft familiarization tour of the Qatar Airways’ A330 aircraft located at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), Macapagal stated that the direct flights have been getting good response from their clientele.

“There are a total of nine flights from Manila and three from Cebu to Europe,” she informed reporters gathered at the Most Important Person (MIP) Lounge situated near the airport’s international passenger terminal. Other important markets in Cebu consist of bookings to the Holy Land, Rome pilgrimages, and trips and cruise markets from Paris. However, there are no plans to increase the present number of 12 flights to and from Europe Macapagal added that Qatar Airways is also bringing in Russian tourists to Cebu.

Airline Highlights
Macapagal declared that Qatar Airways is only one of four airlines with a five-star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, an independent aviation monitoring agency. The cabin crew has also been named as Best in the Middle East for the fourth year in a row ending in 2006, aside from second best worldwide following a survey or more than 12 million passengers worldwide. New routes this year include four flights weekly from Bali and Ho Chi Minh City, and daily flights from Chennai last March. Scheduled flights to be implemented later within the year are Geneva, New York, Stockholm, and Washington.

The airline is expecting its order of four Airbus A-380 “super jumbos” in 2009 to coincide with the opening of the New Doha International Airport. Qatar Airways currently operates 53 all-Airbus fleet to 72 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Far East.