Letter of Instructions No. 493 Extension of Effectivity of the Balikbayan Program

December 30, 1976

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 493

TO : All Concerned

WHEREAS, since the Balikbayan program was launched about 250,000 overseas Filipinos and their families have taken advantage thereof to visit the homeland;

WHEREAS, due to circumstances, many more have not been able to take advantage of the Balikbayan program and wish to do so, as manifested by the 20,000 overseas Filipinos in the United States alone who were unable to come home for the Christmas season due to the lack of airline seats; cdt

WHEREAS, there continues to be a clamor from overseas Filipino groups and Philippine diplomatic offices to extend the Balikbayan program;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, extend the Balikbayan to another period beginning March 1, 1977 to February 28, 1978, featuring the same incentives and benefits provided by Letter of Instructions No. 210 issued on August 20, 1974.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 30th of December, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Six.