EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 271
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 271 - GOVERNING
THE ADMISSION AND STAY OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE SUBIC BAY FREEPORT
ZONE AS TEMPORARY VISITORS
WHEREAS, it is a declared national
policy to attract and promote foreign trade, investment and tourism in
the country, especially in special economic zones such as the Subic
Special Economic and Freeport Zone (“Zone”) to promote economic growth
and national development.
WHEREAS, it is expected that visits to the Zone by foreign nationals
for business and tourism purposes will increase significantly due
mainly to the development and the growing attraction of the Zone as an
investment and tourism destination;
WHEREAS, the Subic Bay International Airport has likewise attracted
interest from international airlines as a destination point for
chartered and commercial flights which will no doubt contribute
immensely to the development of the Zone the Central Luzon Region, and
ultimately, the entire Philippines;
WHEREAS, it is crucial to allow uncomplicated access to the Secured
Area of the Zone as defined in relevant issuances for foreign nationals
in order to realize the above-declared national policy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by law do hereby order:
Section 1. Foreign nationals, not categorized as
“restricted” as determined by the DFA, visiting the Zone for business
and/or tourism purposes may be allowed to enter all ports of entry of
the Zone and stay therein without visa for a maximum period of fourteen
(14) days; provided that upon arrival, they present their passports,
Certificates of Identity or travel documents valid for at least six (6)
months beyond the intended stay in the Zone and confirmed onward flight
tickets. The determination of the identity and admissibility of the
foreign national seeking to enter the Zone under this Executive Order
shall be the primary responsibility of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Sec. 2. Foreign nationals who enter the Zone under
this Executive Order shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a.
they shall leave or depart from the Philippines only through the Subic
Bay International Airport, except as hereinafter provided;
b. they shall
not be allowed outside the Secured Area of the Zone, except to visit
areas outside the Secured Area but within the Zone, provided, that they
are escorted by BI officers and/or Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
(SBMA) officers duly deputized by the BI;
c. those who
intend to visit areas outside the Zone and/or extend their stay in the
Zone for any reason beyond the 14th day period must secure a visa
waiver from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), provided, that
upon securing such visa waiver, the restrictions as provided herein
shall no longer be applicable.
Sec. 3. The Administrator of the SBMA may, in case
of extreme emergencies or under exceptional circumstances, allow
foreign nationals who enter the Zone under this Executive Order to
visit areas outside the Zone under special permit or escort, subject to
confirmation of visa waiver by the DFA.
Sec. 4. The DFA, BI and SBMA shall jointly
implement this Executive Order, and issue guidelines and circulars
implementing the same. They are hereby authorized to collect reasonable
fees for processing of no visa entry and applications for visa waivers.
Sec. 5. The foreign national who violates the
provisions of this Executive Order or its implementing guidelines and
circulars shall be subject to deportation under existing Philippine
immigration laws.
Sec. 6. The privileges accorded hereunder shall
not in any way impair other more favorable no-visa privileges accorded
to foreign nationals under any existing executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order of issuance.
Sec. 7. All previous executive orders, letters of
instruction, administrative orders and/or similar issuances
inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. Special Subic Investors/Working Visas
issued by the SBMA in coordination with the BI shall be deemed regular
visas valid for entry and exit in the Philippine ports of entry.
Sec. 9. This Executive Order shall take effect
immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
DONE in the City of Manila,
this 14th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
ninety-five.
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Since 19.07.98.