Binay seeks Senate probe into visa upon arrival policy for Chinese nationals

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare and concerns about Chinese-run prostitution dens in the country, Senator Nancy Binay is calling on the Senate to look into the visa upon arrival (VUA) policy for Chinese nationals.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 309, Binay asked the proper Senate committees to conduct an inquiry and assessment on the VUA program for Chinese nationals to ensure that this policy “would not pose health risks and facilitate the proliferation of sex trafficking and prostitution in the country.”

She said these issues call for a “more vigilant and tougher” regulation from the government.

Binay noted that VUAs are given to Chinese nationals in pursuant of Department Circular 041 issued by then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in 2017.

The VUA allows a Chinese national to stay in the Philippines for 30 days and may apply for an extension of up to a maximum period of six months, the senator noted.

“This is in line with the government’s thrust to increase tourism and foreign investment, and to better facilitate the expeditious entry and admission of (Chinese nationals) into the country,” the resolution read.

Citing news reports, Binay said authorities have rounded up nearly 300 Chinese sex workers and their clients in raids conducted on 12 brothels in six cities in Metro Manila in the second half of 2019.

During a Senate hearing last week, an official from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the increasing number of Chinese prostitution dens in the country was tied to the emergence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).

Binay stressed that the visa upon arrival policy being enjoyed by Chinese nationals should take into consideration the outbreak of the 2019-novel coronavirus as well as the presence of Chinese prostitution dens in the Philippines.

The Department of Health (DOH) just recently confirmed that another Chinese national who arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan City tested positive for the virus which at present has affected over 20 countries across the world. The Philippines has recorded three confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV infections.

Edited by MUF