DFA Convenes Meeting with Visa Issuing Agencies to Harmonize Policies
PASAY 05 June 2024 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) gathered 24 national government agencies in an inter-agency meeting on 23 May 2024 to harmonize policies on the issuance of Philippine visas and entry of foreign nationals into the country.
The inter-agency meeting was chaired by DFA Undersecretary Jesus S. Domingo, and was attended by and was attended by DFA-Office of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco and high-level officials from government agencies involved in facilitating the entry of foreign nationals, security sector agencies, and special economic zone authorities with visa-issuing mandates.
The meeting facilitated the sharing of updates from government agencies in strengthening their functions related to the entry of foreign nationals, and formulation of recommendations to ensure the entry of legitimate visitors in the Philippines. The agencies discussed ways forward in cross-checking visa statistics and information of foreign nationals, streamlining visa requirements, and monitoring their movements while in the country.
In his opening remarks, Undersecretary Domingo highlighted that “inter-agency cooperation is an indispensable strategy to formulate effective solutions and strengthen our current systems and operations moving forward.”
DFA Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito S. Cruz provided an overview of existing Philippine visa policies and regulations, and current trends and developments on the issuance of visas and denial of certain applications. The said issues were contextualized in recent Congressional hearings investigating illicit activities of foreign nationals in the Philippines.
The DFA shared that it will commence groundwork on long-term solutions to enhance the shared mandate of the agencies present in facilitating the entry of foreign nationals in the Philippines, including sharing of databases on foreign nationals in the country and the creation of an inter-agency committee on visa concerns (ICVC). END
