In pursuit of providing efficient, simplified, and harmonized rules and procedures for the processing of visas and permits for foreign nationals in the Freeport Zones, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan Administrator Emmanuel D. Pineda, Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Executive Director Carminda Z. Fabros, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Deputy Administrator Ruel John T. Kabigting and Clark International Airport Assistant Vice President Darwin L. Cunanan signed the 2022 Revised Rules and Regulations and Procedures on the Processing and Issuance of Permits and Visas of Foreign Nationals in the Subic-Clark Economic Corridor.

The ceremonial signing of the Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) was held on June 14, 2022 at the Clark Freeport Zone Corporate Headquarters. The JMO also aims to provide a more secure and reliable system for monitoring the status of visas and permits issued to foreign nationals in the economic corridor and to provide uniform rules and procedures for the applications or requests for downgrading and cancellation of visas.

In August 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) issued Resolution No. 131-A which governs the application for visa issuance of foreign nationals who intend to come to the Philippines for long-term employment. However, the resolution does not cover visas being issued by Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), hence, the SCAD member IPAs drafted the JMO in order to allow the issuance of Work and Investor’s Visa to Foreign Nationals who intend to work within the Subic, Clark, and Bataan Freeports and Economic Zones.

END/14June2022