SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Wilma T. Eisma revealed Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte signed an Executive Order (EO) granting temporary visit for foreign nationals in this premier freeport.
“Our President recently signed Executive Order 72 on December 18, amending EO 271 of former President Fidel V. Ramos, which grants foreign nationals to enter Subic without a visa. They only need to present their marine vessel tickets to be able to stay here for 14 days,” Eisma said.
Eisma pointed out that the requirements needed for a foreigner to enter the Freeport zone are their passports and certificates of identity, travel documents that is valid for six months.
“This is a game changer for Subic Freeport. We can now accommodate cruise ship visits that are planning to stay overnight while their passengers can tour the many fascinating areas within the adjacent province of the area,” she added.
President Duterte’s EO 72 amends Section 2 of EO 271, making the piers of Subic Bay Freeport open to foreigners. Eisma pointed out that foreigners were only allowed to leave the country through the Subic Bay International Airport.
EO 72 also states that “foreign nationals who enter the Zone under the Executive Order shall… leave or depart from the Philippines only through the Subic Bay International Airport or the Subic Bay Piers and Wharves.”
The executive order also stated that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the SBMA shall jointly implement this order.
The three agencies are authorized by the EO to collect reasonable fees for the processing of no-visa entry and application for visa waivers. (Jonas Reyes)
