Chinese workers are still able to travel to the Philippines despite restrictions on foreign entry imposed by the national government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helping the Chinese workers hurdle immigration requirements are lawmakers from the House of Representatives, who reportedly receive handsome amounts to endorse the foreigners’ entry to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
At least three lawmakers endorsed a total of 34 foreign workers to DFA between September 2020 and February 1, 2021, based on documents obtained by Politiko.
Most of the foreign workers asked to be allowed entry into the Philippines were Chinese, while one was Vietnamese.
Letters addressed to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente from the DFA said the foreigners should either be allowed to re-enter the Philippines or be exempted from the temporary suspension of visa issuance since they were endorsed by a lawmaker.
“Upon the endorsement of the [Office of the lawmaker] and with reference to Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 29-2020 dated 19 March 2020, the Office of Consular Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-OCA) informs the Bureau that the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai PCG has been authorized to issue 9(a) visa subject to compliance with all the visa procedures and requirements to the following nationals,” one of the letters seen by Politiko read.
Based on an advisory posted on the website of the Philippine Embassy in Japan, requests to exempt foreigners from the suspension of visa issuance must be formally endorsed to the DFA by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and other related national government agencies (NGAs) or instrumentalities.
“DTI, PEZA, DOTr or any relevant NGA will endorse the letter to DFA in Manila which shall issue the necessary approval for travel ban exemption,” read the advisory dated Feb. 20, 2021.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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