By ROY C. MABASA
The committee on the US Exchange Visitor Program chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a one-year moratorium on Philippine participation in the program due to “life-threatening” implications related to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This development came after the Philippine Embassy and Consulates in the United States, as well as the Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO), have received over 600 requests for assistance from displaced Filipino J1 visa holders, particularly interns and trainees, for return tickets to the Philippines, temporary shelters, food, and other basic needs after their programs were prematurely terminated when the pandemic broke out.
The US-EVP is an international cultural and educational exchange program administered by the United States where all Filipino participants are required to return to the Philippines upon completion of their programs to share their knowledge, skills, and experience they acquired in the US.
Due to the difficulties they were facing during the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 300 EVP participants have proceeded to return to the Philippines by sourcing their own funding from friends, family, and other sources for their repatriation.
According to a committee report, some have opted to stay behind, risking overstaying their visa stay in the US.
“They have all complained of lack of support from their agencies, sponsors and host institutions,” the report said, adding that there are also lingering complaints on exorbitant fees and deduction in salaries and allowances imposed by some agencies and sponsors which need to be addressed.
During the moratorium, the EVP committee said it will closely examine Philippine participation in the EVP to formulate and adopt policies and mechanisms needed to enhance the protection of Filipino participants, in close coordination with the US Embassy in Manila and US State Department.
The committee said the moratorium took effect immediately after EVP Resolution No. 01-2020 was published on May 25, 2020 and will remain in place for one year, or until six months after the travel restrictions imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases are lifted or revised, whichever is longer.
Members of the Committee are from the Office of the President; Department of Health; Department of Education; Department of Labor and Employment; Department of Science and Technology; National Economic and Development Authority; Professional regulations Commission; Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
