REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Kogawaron ag Pananahanang Pontao at Pagpapauniad ng Kalunsuran DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 202\-006 Series of 2021 GUIDELINES ON THE EVALUATION AND INDORSEMENT OF REQUESTS FOR TRAVEL BAN EXEMPTION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS WHEREAS, there are a significant number of local companies/corporations engaged in the business of housing and real estate development sponsoring, supporting or seeking the entry of foreign executives, employees, consultant, and technical experts whose work is urgent, essential and/or necessary to their housing and real estate project/sin the Philippines; WHEREAS, pursuant to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Advisory: “Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals Allowed to Enter the Philippines While Under Community Quarantine,” hereinafter referred to as the ‘DFA Advisory’, posted last 13 February 2021 in the DFA official website, it is required that all requests for travel ban exemption for foreign nationals will have to be endorsed first to DFA by the national government agencies, including this Department, particularly for those corporations or entities engaged in housing and real estate development; WHEREAS, the DFA, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, has issued two (2) urgent letters dated 05 March 2021 and 29 April 2021 to the heads of the various National Government Agencies (NGAS) regarding the endorsements for entry and exemption of foreign nationals from the temporary suspension of visa issuance, providing requirements therefore, hereinafter referred to as the “DFA Letters’, attached herein as Annex “A” and “Annex “A-1”, respectively; WHEREAS, the real estate development sector, including therewith, housing and shelter production, is one of the fundamental drivers of productivity and economic growth of the country; WHEREAS, there is a need to support prominent real estate developers to boost the effort of the entire housing sector in accelerating real estate development and ultimately, the country's economic recovery in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic; THEREFORE, pursuant to the foregoing, the following are hereby issued and ordered: Section 1, Request for Travel Ban Exemption. A local company/corporation engaged in the business of housing and real estate development sponsoring, any (0 maa. ayes emt co Maman rt Dan, as Oty nating gush OB BONSUOVRsupporting or seeking the entry of foreign executives, employees, consultant, and technical experts whose work is urgent, essential and/or necessary to its housing and real estate projector projects in the Philippines, and seeks indorsement from this Department, pursuant to the said DFA Advisory, shall submit to the DHSUD through its Legal Service, taking into consideration the requirements provided in the DFA Letter, the following documents. a) Letter-request duly signed by the President or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the sponsoring company/corporation specifying the purpose of entry, indicating therein the company/corporation’s focal person with his valid email address and contact numbers; b) A notarized Certification duly subscribed by the President or CEO of the ‘sponsoring company/corporation stating therein the following information: * Name of the foreign executive, employee, consultant or technical expert of the sponsoring company/corporation, his designation and nature of work, relative to the housing and real estate project; * Address where the foreign national employee/contractor/consultant will live during his stay in the Philippines; ‘* The date of arrival and the duration of the stay of the said foreign national employee/contractor/consultant in the Philippines; and ‘+ Attestation that the same is not issued for fraud or misrepresentation or violations of existing laws and regulations. The sponsoring company/corporation may likewise include the application for travel ban exemption of the dependents of the said foreign executive, employee, consultant, and technical expert, limited only to his/her spouse and their minor children, said information shall likewise be indicated in the above-mentioned Certification. ©) Secretary's Certificate showing the corporate directors and officers of the sponsoring company/corporation, the name of the President or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) must appear thereon; d) Proof of nature of business activity of the sponsoring company/corporation relating to housing and real estate development, specially subdivision and condominium development, including but not limited to, Securities and Exchange Commission Registration, Company's Articles of Incorporation and Department of Trade and Industry Registration, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) documents, et al; ) Nature, value and proof of engagement of the foreigner seeking entry to the Philippines; and f) Photocopy of the foreigner’s passport's data page, including his/her dependent, if applicable.9) Printed and soft copies (in Excel format, sample of which is attached herein as Annex “B’), the latter to be emailed to the DHUSD Legal Service via legal@dhsud.gov.ph, containing the following information: * Full name as they appear in the in the valid passport, passport number, and contact details (email and mobile number) of the endorsed foreign national (FN) * If the FN has a valid existing visa, the visa type and validity, and if the FN has no valid/existing visa, the Philippine Embassy or consulate where the FN will apply for a visa; In case entry of several foreign executives, employees, consultant, and technical experts is requested, the sponsoring company/corporation may submit only one (1) Letter-request and one (1) notarized Certification enumerating therein all the names and relevant information of said foreign executives, employees, consultant, and technical experts. For the other pre-requisites above-mentioned, except for the foreigners’ passport requirement, the sponsoring company/corporation may submit only one (1) set of documents. Section 2, Evaluation of the Requirements. Upon receipt of the Letter-request and its attachments, the DHSUD Legal Service shall then verify and evaluate if the submitted documents, including the soft copy above-mentioned, are complete and in order, If complete and in order, the DHSUD Legal Service shall recommend to the ‘Secretary the issuance of the Department's Endorsement to the DFA, in accordance to the format and content requirements provided in the DFA Letters, (Annex “A” and Annex “A-1"), forwarding therewith the Letter-request and attachments to the Office of the Secretary. If incomplete or there appears some discrepancy and ambiguity in the documents submitted and for other valid reasons, the DHSUD Legal Service shall notify the applicant of said deficiency/ies, discrepancy, ambiguity or other reasons for the denial of said request, giving the latter ten (10) days upon receipt of the notification to submit the deficiency/ies or written explanations to clarify the discrepancy, ambiguity et al. Section 3. Submission of Request to DFA. Upon approval of the said recommendation by the Office of the Secretary, the DHSUD Legal Service shall endorse the said request by way of a Letter of Endorsement to DFA via the Request Form in accordance and strict compliance of the procedure indicated in the DFA Letter dated 29 April 2021 (Annex “A-1")Section 4. DFA’s Denial of the Request. If the DFA denied the request for any valid reason and this Department is notified of such denial, the DHSUD Legal Service shall inform the sponsoring company/corporation of such denial within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice of denial. Section 5. Fraud in the Request. If this Department, after the request has been indorsed to DFA, discovers after a thorough investigation, that the entry of the said foreign executives, employees, consultant, and technical experts: a) is not connected in any other way to the sponsor company/corporation’s housing and real estate projector projects, or b) other forms of fraud or misrepresentation was committed by the sponsoring company/corporation and/or the foreign individual, the DHSUD shall revoke the said endorsement and shall notify the DFA of the said revocation. This is without prejudice to the filing of administrative and criminal case/s against the corporation, the President or CEO of the corporation and deportation proceedings against said foreign individuals, if so warranted. All endorsements made by this Department prior to the effectivity of this Order shall remain valid unless fraud or misrepresentation was committed, the same shall be likewise be revoked and a notification to the DFA shall thereafter be issued. Section 6. Amendments in case of Additional Requirement. In case the DFA issues another advisory or the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Covid-19 issues another order, which necessitates additional requirements, after the effectivity of this Order, this Department shall issue a corresponding amendatory Order without necessarily revoking this present Order. Section 7. Separability. Should any provision of this Order be declared unconstitutional or contrary to law, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Order. Section 8. Effectivity. This Department Order shall immediately take effect upon publication in a newspaper of general circulatién.DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KAGAWARAN NG UGNAYANG PANLABAS ANNEX A ‘THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR CIVILIAN SECURITY AND CONSULAR AFFAIRS 5 March 2021 Subject: Endorsement Letters from NGAs for Exemption from the Temporary ‘Suspension of Viea Issuance or for Re-entry to the Philippines Dear Sirs/Mesdames: The Department refers to the submission by National Government Agencies (NGAs) of endorsements for entry and exemption of foreign nationals from the temporary suspension of visa issuance, pursuant to the key agreements Inte Inter-Agency Task ‘orca. In order to facilitate the processing of entry exemptions, the Department respectfully reiterates compliance with the following requirements for endorsement letters from NGAS: 1. Signed, not just initialed, by the head of the NGA or his/her designated altemate signatory; 2. Must be dated; 3. The name of the endorsed company and ts focal person, including the focal person's valid email address and contact numbers, are stated in the body of the letter; The total number of endorsed foreign national/s (FN) is indicated in the body of the letter and not merely referenced in an Annex; Comes with complete informationidocuments of the requesting party/ies, as follows: a. Full name as they appear in the valid passport, passport number, and contact details (email and mobile number) of the endorsed foreign national (FN), . If the FN has a valid/existing visa, the visa type and validity, and if the FN has no valid/existing visa, the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the FN will apply for a visa; c. Clear copy of the FN's passport data page and visa page (if with visa); and d. Copy of the corporate papers of the company, as applicable. ‘The Department reiterates that endorsements must include the FN's details using the attached Excel template in soft file. This matrix must be emailed to ‘9ca.exemptions@amail.com together with the NGA endorsement and using the NGA’s ‘designated email address as earlier requested through our letter dated 25 January 2021 (copy attached), Kindly also advice the endorsed FNs to finalize their light arrangements only after they have received their exemption documents. Starting on 08 March 2021, the Department will no longer accept nor process endorsements that do not comply with these requirements. ‘Thank you for your usual kind cooperation. Very truly yours, SETTLEMENTS OPMENT For the Secretary of Foreign Affairs: TY 2380 Roxas Bd, Pay City, 1300 Phiippines Tel Ho. 94 4000 wna gow HUMAN N DEV Not valid without authentication codeHON. WILLIAM D. DAR ‘2secMda.gov.ph HON. LEONOR BRIONES: Secretary Department of Education Is.\d@deped.cov.oh HON, ALFONSO G. CUS! Secretary Department of Energy ‘sec.alfonsocusi@amall com HON. CARLOS DOMINGUEZ ‘Secretary Department of Finance secdin@dofgov.ph HON. FRANCISCO DUQUE Secretary Department of Health fiduave@doh gov ph HON. GREGORIO HONABAN It Secretary Department of information and Communications Technology regorio honasan@di h HON. EDUARDO ARO Secretary Department of interior and Local Government mba@diig.gov.ph HON, SILVESTRE BELLO Secretary Department of Labor and Employment gsecfhdole.cov.ch HON. MARK VILLAR: ‘Secretary Department of Puble Works and Highways Vilar mark@dpwh,gov.ph HON, FORTUNATO DE LA PERA ‘Secretary Department of Sclence and Technology osec@idost.gov.oh HON. RONALDO JOSELITO BAUTISTA ‘Secretary Department of Social and Weifare Development osec@dswd.cov.ph HON. BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYAT ‘Department of Tourlem sbrp@tourism.gov.ph HON. RAMON LOPEZ Secretary Department of Trade and industry ‘Sactetarvi@li aov.ph: di travelexemptions@bol aov.ph HON. ARTHUR TUGADE ‘Secretary ‘Department of Transportation gsectidotr.gov.ohHON. CARLITO GALVEZ JR. Chief implementer National Task Force Against COVID-19 nic. rmicovid8@amaicom HON. KARL KENDRICK CHUA Acting Secretary ‘National Economic and Development Authority OSEC@neda.gov.oh HON, EDUARDO DEL ROSARIO ‘Department of Human Settlements end Urban Development info@dhsud.aov.ph HON. ROY A. CIMATU Secretary Department of Environment and Natural Resources: oseoMden.gov.ph HON, DELFIN N. LORENZANA Secretary Department of National Defense gasla@énd gov ph HON, MEYNARDO | GUEVARRA ‘Secretary Department of Justice ‘secf@doj gov.oh HON. J, PROSPERO E. DE VERA Ii Chairman ‘Commission on Higher Education s@ched.gov.h HON. BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO. Govemor Bangko Sentral ng Pinas ‘bspmail@bsp.gov.ph MWR. REYNALDO VELASCO ‘Chairman ‘Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System 6 fi h M8, CHARITO PLAZA Director General Philippine Economic Zone Authority fnu@peza.aov.h, odacbp@veza.cov.ch MR. GREGORIO D. GARCIA ttt Chairperson Bases Conversion and Development Authority ‘grumohr@beda.qov oh ‘Chairperson ‘Suble Bay Metropolitan Authority visaprocessing@:sbma.com Courtesy Copies: MR. JAIME H. MORENTE ‘Commissioner, Bureau of immigration xinfo@immigration.gov.ph DFA-OCAKAGAWARAN NG UGNAYANG PANLABAS OFFICE OF THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR CIVILIAN SECURITY AND CONSULAR AFFAIRS 29 Apa 2021 SUBJECT: Guidelines for Stresmiined Processing of Requests for Exemption from the Temporary Suspension of Viea Issuance Dear Sirs/Mesdames: Further to our letter dated 05 March 2021 (copy attached) and the briefing conducted for representatives of National Government Agencies (NGAs) on 25 April 2021, the Department sends the following additional guidelines to further streamiine the processing of requests for ‘exemption from the temporary suspension of visa issuance, facilitate easier tracking, and expedite the tumaround time for each submission: 1. Starting on 03 May 2021, all requests for visa exemption must be submitted through a Request Form accessible online. Due to the high volume of emails racelved daily, we will no longer be able to entertain submissions sent via email and only endorsed requests submitted via this online Request Form will be considered for processing. Moreover, the ‘ca.exemptions@gmail.com mailbox has now been discontinued. Ail communications will be coursed through offical DFA email addresses. 2. Access to the Request Form is restricted to of the National Government Agency (NGA) only. The Department ‘accept submiasions from the valid ‘email address nominated by the NGA. In this regard, Kindly send us the name and email address of your nominsted focal person on or before 03 May 2021 through aufa gov The nko te Request Farm wi be sent tothe ema aes of he ol ‘Person after the nomination is received. All incoming and outgoing communications on entry ‘exemptions will be coursed through the focal person. 3. The Request Form willbe accessible Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 3:00pm only: 4, Due to limited manpower and the alternative work arrangement during the pandemic, the Department wil imit the daily number of endorsed requests received to 100. Once this limit is reached, access to the Request Form will be terminated even earlier than the 3:00pm cut off time. We hope for your Agency's understanding on the imposition of ths limit. 5. The Letier of Endorsement, along withthe required supporting documents/atachments/details, must be uploaded through the Request For. These documents include, but not kite tothe following: ') Request letter from the companyfindividual specifying the purpose of entry; ') Copy ofthe passport data page of the foreign nationals requesting enty ©) Copy of the foreign nationa'’s valid visa (if applicable) 4) Copy of corporate papers ofthe company (it applicable) Kindly submit these documents in a single PDF file. We recommend using a file minimizer 10 ‘compress file cize and minimize storage consumption. 6. The correct names, passport numbers, and other information of foreign nationals must be listed in an Excel file that must also be uploaded through the Request Form. Please strcily follow the instructions and. —=sformat — indicated. — inthis, sample: hitps:/drive,google,convile/d/1E_wicScukfIARGOpo9u7 Ua9AnFcQuNaN Mi = This fnk is open for viewing only and needs fo be downloaded. Link to ths file is also available (on the Request Form. 7. A.confirmation emai with an 8-digit tracking/reference code will be sent to the endorsing NGA within 24 hours from the time a request is received. The tracking/reference code can be used to monitor the status of requests on the Entry Exemption Requests Online Venfication System Which can be accessed here: htips//consular.fa.qov.phi/servicesienty-exemption 28, For the orderly processing of all endorsements, follow ups by the applicant, private company, ‘or individuals will not be entertained, NGAs may refer to this Online Verification System to track the progress of their endorsements. Only the NGA focal person may coordinate with the Department for clarification or status per item No. 2 above. 2530 Roxas Bld, Pasay City, 1300 Pritprines ag} ey) DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ANNEX A-1DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS bg. KAGAWARAN NG UGNAYANG PANLABAS 8, Pursuant to Republic Act 11032: Ease of Doing Business and Etficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, the Department shall process complex requests within 7 business days, conly ater the Depariment has received all ofthe requirements from the requesting party and ‘deemed them valid and complete. Any requests that require further validation from another Department/Agency/Office wil be treated as a highly technical application and will require 20 business days to process {In addition, please note that if there are corrections or revisions on the details of the exempted foreign nationals after Foreign Service Posts have been authorized to issue the visa and the Letter to the Bureau of Immigration (LB!) has been issued, the process will re-start and turnaround time will be 7 working days again. ‘Thus, endorsing NGAs are requested to ensure accuracy of the foreign nationals details such as the names and passport details including passport validity, as well as the Foreign Service Post ‘where the foreign national will fle his/her visa application, Please also advise the FNs you are endorsing not to finalize their travel itineraries unti after receipt oftheir entry exemption documents and visas as required, ‘Thank you for your usual cooperation. Very tray yours, For the Secretary of Foreign Affairs: ‘ BRIGIDp J. PULAY Undeleecrbtary HON. WILLIAM D. DAR, Secretary Department of Agricuture 2sec@da.gov.oh HON. LEONOR BRIONES: Secretary Department of Education 'gldé@deped.aov.oh HON. ALFONSO G. CUS! Secretary Department of Energy ‘sec.alfonsocusi@amail.com HON, CARLOS DOMINGUEZ Secretary Department of Finance secdin@dot.gov.ph HON. FRANCISCO DUQUE Secretary Department of Health ‘fiduque@doh.gov.ph HON. GREGORIO HONASAN I Secretary Department of Information and Communications Technology ‘gregorio.honasan@cict.aov.ph HON, EDUARDO ARO Secretary Department of Interior and Local Government ‘eapasamba@iig.gov.ph HON, SILVESTRE BELLO ‘Secretary Department of Labor and Employment ‘gsect@dole.aov.oh onp-st-eansne DIMM BYR PERI sarap atu otto cdeyj DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS al KAGAWARAN NG UGNAYANG PANLABAS HON, MARK VILLAR ‘Secretary ‘Deparment of Pubic Works and Highways villar.mark@xdpwh gov.ph HON, FORTUNATO DE LA PERA ‘Secretary Department of Science and Technology ‘osecM@dostaov.oh HON. RONALDO JOSELITO BAUTISTA Secretary Department of Social and Welfare Development ‘osec@dswd.gov.ph HON, BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYAT Secretary Department of Tourism ‘sbep@tourism.gov.ph HON, RAMON LOPEZ Secretary Department of Trade and Industry ‘Secretary @dti,gov.ph: di travelexemptions@boi,aov.oh HON, ARTHUR TUGADE Secretary Department of Transportation ‘seci@dotr.gov.oh HON, CARLITO GALVEZ JR. Chief implementer National Task Force Against COVID-19 nlezmmtoovid1 9@amallcom HON. KARL KENDRICK CHUA ‘Acting Secretary National Economic and Development Authority QSEC@nede.aov.ph \HON, EDUARDO DEL ROSARIO Secretary Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development info@dhsud.gov.ph HON, ROY A. CIMATU Secretary Department of Environment and Natural Resources ‘gsec@denr,gov.ph HON. DELFIN N. LORENZANA Secretary ‘Department of National Defense ‘asla(@dnd,.gov.ph HON. MEYNARDO |. GUEVARRA Secretary Department of Justice ‘esec@doi,gov.oh HON. J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA Itt Chairman ‘Commission on Higher Education fas@ched.qov.phDEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KKAGAWARAN NG UGNAYANG PANLABAS HON. BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO. Govemor Bangko Sentral ng Pinas Depmall@bsp.cov.ph MR. REYNALDO VELASCO Chairman ‘Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System eapasamba@dils.gov.ph MS. CHARITO PLAZA Director General Philippine Economic Zone Authority ‘thu@peza.cov.ph, educhp@peze,aov.oh MR_ GREGORIO D. GARCIA It Chairperson Saves Conversion and Development Authority smTumohn@bede.aov.ch MS. WILMA EISMA, Chairperson ‘Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority visaprocessing@sbma.com UNDERSECRETARY ANDERSON A. LO Presidential Management Staff sap.opprd@amail,com Courtesy Copies: MR. JAIME H, MORENTE ‘Commissioner, Bureau of immigration »info@iemmiaraion gov.oh DFA. OSEC, DFA- OCA, DFA ISU, DFA-Geographic Offices 17220 Roxas Bd, Pasay City, 1300 Philippines Tel Mo. 894-4000 wrndiagovchANNEX B No. | Name Passport No. | Valid Visa of | Philippine | Email Address oF Foreign (Type | Embassy or | Focal Person and Validity)* | Consulate** * If the visa expires within the next 30 days from the time you receive this email notice or its validity g0es beyond the intended travel date, indicate which Philippine Embassy or Consulate will the foreign national apply if the request for exemption from the temporary suspension of visa issuance is granted by the Department of Foreign Affairs. ** Indicate the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the foreign national will lodge his/her visa application if the request for exemption from the temporary suspension of visa issuance is granted.