Manila plan afoot to expand VOS policy to attract tourists
On the Philippines’ VOS programme, Pamintuan said she had received concerns from various nationalities ‘having difficulties’ in obtaining shortterm visas
Philippine authorities shall be looking at expanding its visa on arrival (Vos)policy to atract more tourists.
Department of Tourism (Dot)-finance Undersecretary Shereen Gail Yu-pamintuan mentioned this in her speech at the recent “Cebu Pacific Stakeholders’ Night” in Dubai.
The event was the kick-off 10th anniversary celebration of the Manila-dubai-manila flight of the budget airline which has, for its sustainability mandate since 2018, among other initiatives, the shit of its 77 fleet into New Engine Option (NEO) aircrat, utilising Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2028, aligned with the international aviation industry’s 2050 Net-zero goal.
It was in September 2022 when the 34-yearold company operated its maiden Saf-powered passenger flight from Singapore to Manila. Last April 16, its 10th NEO was delivered.
Email interviewed, Cebu Pacific Chief Strategy officer Alex Reyes explained: “SAF is a ‘drop-in’ replacement for fossil fuels made from agricultural feedstock and waste materials such as used cooking oil and animal fat. Its use results up to 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions over the fuel’s life cycle. Its chemical and physical characteristics are identical to those of conventional jet fuel and can be safely mixed with regular jet fuel. It does not require any modification to the aircrat or engines and does not have any negative impact on performance and maintenance.”
“Aviationregulationscurrentlyallowamaximum blend of SAF and regular jet fuel to 50 per cent. But aircrat and engine manufacturers have put in programmes that will allow 100 per cent pure SAF by the end of the decade,” Reyes wrote.
He said SAF is currently quintuple costly than the ordinary jet fuel because production has yet to increase. The increase could be achieved by way of “more investments, collaborations, and consumer awareness; it is this special commodity that shall help in the de-carbonisation goals of the entire aviation industry.”
On the Philippines’vos programme, Pamintuan said she had received concerns from various nationalities “having difficulties” in obtaining short-term visas.
DOT shall work with two other government agencies responsible for visas issuance - the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
DFA authorises the Philippines’ over 80 diplomatic and consular missions across the globe to issue visas. BI is “principally responsible for the administration and enforcement of immigration, citizenship, alien admission and registration laws in accordance with the provisions of the Philippine Immgration Act of 1940.”
So far, 158 nationalities, which include GCC nationals, are granted VOS for up to 59 days. Indians holding valid tourist/business/residence visas issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, USA, UK and EU (Shengen) may stay there for 14 days.
From Sharjah, delighted of the VOS expansion, were Treezah James from India and lawyer/ International Commercial arbitrator Yasser Mohamed Ibrahim from Egypt.
James was supposed to work-related live in Davao City, southeast of Mindanao, for three months in 2015 but was unable due to unforeseen circumstances. She is looking forward to holiday there in the next two years, following the decision of her “Filipina best friend-colleague to build a house in her province.” Ibrahim plans to take his family for a well-deserved break there, saying he is encouraged to experience the country out of his amiable relationships with Filipino workmates and friends. He expressed hope that Egyptians be added to the amended VOS list because “many Eqyptians are married to Filipinas.”
Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines chief operating officer Marga Nograles said the “DOT goal is to bring in at least 4.8 million tourism arrivals this year.”
On the sidelines regarding the Cebu Pacific SAF and the sustainability programme, Chief Marketing & Customer Experience officer Candice Iyog added management shall lead the 10,000-hectare mangrove planting in Dimanhug, Cebu Province in Eastern Visayas by May end. Moreover, electronic vehicles ferry employees from other parts of Metro Manila to the main headquarters in Pasay City.
“Our sustainability programme is our contribution towards nation-building. More than just flying people, we must make sure that when we leave a place, it is much beter than when we have found it,” Iyog said.