Visa requirements eased for aid workers

Bureau of Immigration building. Photo from Bureau of Immmigration website

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine government will temporarily ease the visa requirements for foreign aid workers who will help victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a statement, the bureau said on Thursday it will assist foreign aid workers as well as members of the international media in expediting the processing of their respective visas.

Foreign aid workers and international media would not be required to present a six-month valid passport and the return ticket requirements to ease their entry into the Philippines and the typhoon-ravaged areas, said BI head Siegfred Mison.

“This also applies to media practitioners sent by their respective media outlets to cover the relief efforts in those areas,” he said.

For those who will stay longer than what their visas allow should not worry, Mison said, explaining that the government has agreed not to charge visa fees to foreign aid workers and international media personnel who will extend their 30-day stay in the Philippines.

Hundreds of foreign aid workers have entered the Philippines from countries with visa entry requirements.

These workers, mostly from United Nations and foreign aid organizations, are now assisting Philippine government personnel in providing relief to thousands of survivors of the typhoon.

Mison, however, advised these foreign aid organizations to coordinate with the bureau and submit the list of their personnel involved in the relief efforts.

“This is to avoid the abuse of this temporary easement of visa requirements,” Mison said.