Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) – A lawmaker from the House of Representatives called on the national government to be more compassionate with stranded foreigners in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bohol third district Rep. Alexie Tutor filed House Resolution 1466 on Monday urging the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to intercede with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) in extending help to foreign nationals whose visas or alien certificates of registrations had expired while being stuck in the country.
“Though no fault of their own, these foreign nationals have been stranded in our country and their visas have expired. Please do not treat them as overstaying aliens or as criminals just because they could not leave the country,” said Tutor in a statement.
Tutor also called for the waiving of stiffer penalties in the renewal of alien certificates of registration, citing the stranded foreigners are financially challenged and cannot go outdoors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I ask the DOT and DFA to work with the DOJ and BI on just solutions to their predicaments because we are a hospitable people,” the Bohol lawmaker added.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente announced last week that foreign nationals in the country may now file their annual report for the renewal of their Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card in the agency’s main office in Intramuros, Manila. Eligible are those issued with immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including holders of Temporary Visitor’s Visa, who have stayed for more than 59 days in the country.
“The law requires all foreign nationals to report annually within the first 60 days of a calendar year, and they have only until March 1 to comply,” Morente said.
The Immigration chief added only 800 slots for the annual report are allotted per day and foreigners should go to http://e-services.immigration.gov.ph to choose their appointment date.
“We reiterate that to achieve social distancing we will not allow the entry of walk-in foreigners. They have to obtain their schedule via our online appointment system,” warned Morente.
