EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 271 August 14, 1995
GOVERNING THE ADMISSION AND STAY OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE AS TEMPORARY VISITORS
WHEREAS, it is a declared national policy to attract and promote foreign trade, investment and tourism in the country, especially in special economic zones such as the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone ("Zone") to promote economic growth and national development.
WHEREAS, it is expected that visits to the Zone by foreign nationals for business and tourism purposes will increase significantly due mainly to the development and the growing attraction of the Zone as an investment and tourism destination;
WHEREAS, the Subic Bay International Airport has likewise attracted interest from international airlines as a destination point for chartered and commercial flights which will no doubt contribute immensely to the development of the Zone the Central Luzon Region, and ultimately, the entire Philippines;
WHEREAS, it is crucial to allow uncomplicated access to the Secured Area of the Zone as defined in relevant issuances for foreign nationals in order to realize the above-declared national policy. lawphi1.net
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law do hereby order:
SECTION 1. Foreign nationals, not categorized as "restricted" as determined by the DFA, visiting the Zone for business and/or tourism purposes may be allowed to enter all ports of entry of the Zone and stay therein without visa for a maximum period of fourteen (14) days; provided that upon arrival, they present their passports, Certificates of Identity or travel documents valid for at least six (6) months beyond the intended stay in the Zone and confirmed onward flight tickets. The determination of the identity and admissibility of the foreign national seeking to enter the Zone under this Executive Order shall be the primary responsibility of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
SEC. 2. Foreign nationals who enter the Zone under this Executive Order shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a. they shall leave or depart from the Philippines only through the Subic Bay International Airport, except as hereinafter provided;
b. they shall not be allowed outside the Secured Area of the Zone, except to visit areas outside the Secured Area but within the Zone, provided, that they are escorted by BI officers and/or Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officers duly deputized by the BI;
c. those who intend to visit areas outside the Zone and/or extend their stay in the Zone for any reason beyond the 14th day period must secure a visa waiver from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), provided, that upon securing such visa waiver, the restrictions as provided herein shall no longer be applicable.
SE. 3. The Administrator of the SBMA may, in case of extreme emergencies or under exceptional circumstances, allow foreign nationals who enter the Zone under this Executive Order to visit areas outside the Zone under special permit or escort, subject to confirmation of visa waiver by the DFA.
SEC. 4. The DFA, BI and SBMA shall jointly implement this Executive Order, and issue guidelines and circulars implementing the same. They are hereby authorized to collect reasonable fees for processing of no visa entry and applications for visa waivers.
SEC. 5. The foreign national who violates the provisions of this Executive Order or its implementing guidelines and circulars shall be subject to deportation under existing Philippine immigration laws.
SEC. 6. The privileges accorded hereunder shall not in any way impair other more favorable no-visa privileges accorded to foreign nationals under any existing executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order of issuance.
SEC. 7. All previous executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders and/or similar issuances inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. lawphi1.net
SEC. 8. Special Subic Investors/Working Visas issued by the SBMA in coordination with the BI shall be deemed regular visas valid for entry and exit in the Philippine ports of entry. lawphi1.net
SEC. 9. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 14th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-five.
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