Include Philippines in visa waiver program, says Guam senator

Unlike others who have focused on requesting for the inclusion of Russia and China in the joint Guam-CNMI visa waiver program, Guam Sen. Judith P. Guthertz is pushing for the inclusion of the Philippines under the proposed program.

Guthertz, the chairperson of the Guam Legislature’s Committee on Military Buildup and Homeland Security, is the latest person to comment on the proposed regulations regarding the new visa waiver program that is part of the implementation of section 702 of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008. The Act will extend federal immigration laws to the CNMI. The start date is scheduled for June 1, although a delay of up to six months is possible.

CNMI officials, business leaders and community members have expressed their concern that the Commonwealth would lose the Russia and Chinese tourists— two emerging markets—if the countries were not included in the waiver.

Guthertz, however, has focused her comments on the importance of including the Philippines within the program.

“The Republic of the Philippines should definitely be included on the list of countries included in the Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver program,” she said. “This would be of significant economic benefit to our people. More importantly, we need the visa waiver program for the [Philippines] because of the close family and cultural ties between us. The Visit Families and Friends numbers would be the most important reason for including the [Philippines] in the visa waiver program for Guam.”

The lawmaker notes that the country has a large presence in Guam’s history and much of the Chamorro culture is adopted from the Philippine culture.

Local families, therefore, have many relatives residing in the Philippines and visit the country often.

“However, it is a one way system because the relatives in the [Philippines] cannot get visas to visit their relatives here on our islands without lengthy and difficult application process for a regular visa,” she added.

For example, the lawmaker said, many families want relatives residing in the Philippines to watch their sons or daughters graduate from the University of Guam but are unable to because of the difficulty in obtaining a visa.

Also, Filipino business leaders may want to visit Guam on short notice but will be unable to if a visa is required.

In the visa waiver program interim final rule, the Department of Homeland Security notes that China, Russia and the Philippines are the three largest tourism markets that will be impacted by the program because they will be excluded.

In her comments, Guthertz said emphasis must be placed on the federal government’s investment of personnel and material in order to establish a presence in Guam and the CNMI with reference to the visa waiver program.

“We are fortunate in this regard that there is a DHS boundary between Hawaii and the mainland separating them from Guam and the CNMI,” she said. “If any foreign visitors overstay their time they will be unable to proceed on into the U.S. interior because their paperwork check at the CNMI and Guam airports. Further, all of the military bases on Guam are well protected so there is no danger from foreigners holding visa waiver documents.”

Finally, the senator asks DHS to consider hiring local graduates from the University of Guam, Guam Community College and Northern Marianas College as the agency develops a presence on the islands.

Besides Guthertz, as of yesterday 16 other people have commented on the Federal Register website about the proposed regulations, less than a month before the March 16 deadline for public comments.