Implementing Rules and Regulations for EO 758 s. 2008 (Special Visa for Employment Generation)

February 18, 2009

BI MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. MCL-09-001

 

SECTION 1. Title. — These rules shall implement the issuance of the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) under Executive Order (E.O.) No. 758 (series of 2008). AaSTIH

SECTION 2. To Whom Issued. — Subject to restrictions imposed by the Constitution and existing laws on control, nationality and/or ownership of working capital, a SVEG shall be issued to a foreigner or foreigners with controlling interests in an entity, firm, partnership or corporation that establishes, expands or rehabilitates a business activity, investment, enterprise or industry that enables the proportional employment of at least ten (10) full-time/regular Filipino workers are actually employed on a long-term basis in the Philippines.

The minimum requirement provided for in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to laws requiring specific investment and/or capitalization requirement such as, but not limited to, the Foreign Investment Act and Retail Trade Liberalization Law.

Further, the foreign equity participation in an entity, partnership or corporation shall be consistent with the Constitution, the Foreign Investment Act and other special laws.

SECTION 3. Viable and Sustainable Commercial Investment/Enterprise. — Viable and sustainable commercial investment, enterprise or industry shall mean any business activity, investment, enterprise or industry in the Philippines that a SVEG under these rules shall be issued to any foreigner or group of foreigners in any business activity, investment, enterprise or industry in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of the Philippines that: aIETCA

(a) Engages in the manufacturing, processing, assembly, production, packaging, supply, delivery and/or trading of goods, products and/or commodities, either for mass consumption or for export including foreign investors in special economic zones owned and/or administered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA);

(b) Requires or utilizes, on a wide-market proportion, service-intensive support in information technology, systems research and development, education, knowledge and business process out-sourcing, production/services/innovation off-shoring and call and/or transaction processing;

(c) Provides, on a marketable and profitable degree, service-oriented support in modern, alternative, indigenous, physical, therapeutic, recuperative and health-care facilities; or

(d) Provides training for long-term and full-time/regular employment of Filipino workers in a business activity, investment, enterprise or industry covered by Section 2 of these Rules.

SECTION 4. Nature of Employment of Filipino Workers. — Under these Rules, the employment of at least ten (10) long-term and full-time/regular Filipino workers shall be for managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions in a business activity, investment, enterprise or industry in the Philippines.

SECTION 5. Definition of Managerial Position. — A position is managerial if these characteristics concur:

(a) The worker manages the organization or a department of the organization;

(b) The worker supervises and controls the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, or manages an essential function of the organization;

(c) The worker has the authority to hire and/or fire those persons supervised, of if none are supervised, works at a senior level within the organization; and

(d) The worker has the authority to make decisions concerning the day-to-day operations of the portion of the organization over which he or she has authority. TcIAHS

SECTION 6. Definition of Executive Position. — A position is executive if these characteristics concur:

(a) The worker directs the management of the organization or a major part of the organization;

(b) The worker sets the goals and policies of the organization or a part of the organization;

(c) The worker has extensive decision-making authority; and

(d) The worker receives only general supervision or direction from higher level executives, a board of directors, or the stockholders of the organization.

SECTION 7. Definitions of Professional, Technical, Skilled and Unskilled. — The term professionals shall refer to employment requiring formalized, extensive training or education in creative and intellectually challenging work that includes, but are not necessarily limited to, researchers, computer data and systems technicians/designers/programmers/analysts, physical/occupational therapists, nurses, medico-health specialists, medical technologists, radiologists and electronic/graphic/digital media specialists. TAEDcS

The term technical shall refer to employment that requires highly-specialized scientific, agro-industrial, chemical, mechanical, electric, electronic and similar expertise.

The term skilled shall refer to employment that requires at least two years training or experience.

The term unskilled shall refer to employment that requires less than two years training or experience. However, this term excludes housekeepers and household workers, including domestics, nannies, cooks, guards, caretakers and the like.

SECTION 8. Other Investments in the Philippines. — Foreigners with other investments in the Philippines consisting of real estate, shares of stock or bonds, insurance, mutual plans, estate funds, local or foreign currency time deposits may avail themselves of the privileges of the SVEG upon proof of utilization of such investments into an active and continuous business activity, investment, enterprise or industry in the Philippines under Section 2 of these Rules.

SECTION 9. Filing and Contents of SVEG Application. — The SVEG application shall be filed at the Office of the Commissioner consisting of:

(a) Notarized letter-request;

(b) Photocopy of passport with updated stay;

(c) Certified true copies of the Articles of Incorporation and latest General Information Sheet or any proof of investment of the applicant;

(d) Certified true copy of the DOLE-issued Alien Employment Permit, whenever applicable;

(e) DOLE certification that the applicant's activity, investment, enterprise or industry in the Philippines employs at least ten (10) Filipino workers;

(f) NICA clearance; and

(g) BI clearance.

The application shall also certify, among others, that:

(a) The applicant maintains a lawful immigration status in the Philippines;

(b) The applicant is engaged in a viable and sustainable business activity, investment, enterprise or industry in the Philippines;

(c) The applicant exercises acts of management with authority to employ, promote and dismiss employees;

(d) The applicant evinces a genuine intention to indefinitely remain in the Philippines, for purposes of these Rules;

(e) The applicant's business activity, investment, enterprise or industry is a real and on-going affair requiring daily supervision that shall provide employment for at least ten (10) long-term full time/regular Filipino workers in accordance with Philippine labor laws and other applicable special laws;

(f) The applicant undertakes to continuously comply with the conditions and limitations of the SVEG, as may be imposed by the Commissioner of Immigration. CSHDTE

SECTION 10. Compliance to Permit, License and Clearance Requirements, Cooperation and Coordination. — Applicants for SVEG shall also attach proofs of compliance with the Labor Code, SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig on business license and other clearance requirements as may be required by law or regulations.

Government departments and agencies shall coordinate with the BI in the issuance of directives with a view to minimizing documentary requirements under these Rules.

SECTION 11. One Stop-Shop Center. — A One-Stop Shop Center shall be established at the BI to assist the issuance of permits, licenses and clearances not otherwise attached in their applications under Section 9 of these Rules. The BI shall provide adequate office space and facilities to all duly-authorized representatives of the government agencies concerned. HCATEa

SECTION 12. Processing Time. Substantive Proof Needed. Control Number for Each Application. Preventing Intercalations. Non-Application of Technical Rules of Evidence and Procedure. — The Commissioner of Immigration shall, upon payment of an application fee of P2,000.00, together with payment of legal research fee, BI clearance and Express lane fee, receive and resolve completely-accomplished SVEG applications within fifteen (15) working days from the date of filing.

He shall assign a specific control number for each application and implement measures to prevent intercalations. Substantive proof shall be received and evaluated, without strict observance to the technical rules of evidence and procedure.

SECTION 13. Notice of Approval/Disapproval. Motion for Reconsideration. Decisions/Rulings are Final and Executory. — Upon resolution of each application, the Commissioner of Immigration shall send via registered mail a Notice of Approval/Notice of Disapproval to the applicant. Within forty five (45) days from receipt, a Notice of Disapproval may be reviewed via a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) to the Commissioner of Immigration. An MR fee in the amount of P1,500.00, together with payment of legal research fee, BI clearance and Express lane fee, shall be paid and collected, for this purpose. Only one MR shall be allowed. The Commissioner of Immigration shall resolve the MR within a period of five days from receipt. Such resolution shall be final and executory. ICTcDA

SECTION 14. Registration and Documentation. Issuance of ACR I-Card and Identification Certificate. Multiple Entry Privileges and Conditional Stay. — The Notice of Approval shall direct the alien to report, without need of prior departure from the Philippines, for registration and documentation at the BI. An Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card and an Identification Certification (I.D.) shall be issued upon payment of appropriate fees. The A.C.R.-I Card and I.D. shall indicate, among others, as follows:

Status Adjusted Without Departure as a Special Non-immigrant with Multiple Entry Privileges and Conditional Stay in the Philippines under EO No. 758 (Series of 2008 in relation to C.A. No. 613, Section 47(a)(2) under BI Control No. _____.

Special return certificates with multiple-entry privileges shall also be issued to SVEG holders.

SECTION 15. Conditional and Immediate Implementation SVEG. — Upon approval, the Commissioner of Immigration shall issue a one (1) year probationary SVEG. Thereafter he shall, upon request filed by the applicant within 30 days before the expiration of the probationary period, issue a SVEG for indefinite stay, upon payment of P2,000.00, together with payment of legal research fee, BI clearance and Express lane fee, and substantive proofs that: TIAEac

(a) The business activity, investment, enterprise or industry is an actual, on-going and operating activity for past twelve (12) months immediately preceding the filing of the SVEG application;

(b) The business activity, investment, enterprise or industry actually employs and maintains at least ten (10) long-term and full-time/regular Filipino workers under Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of these Rules; and

(c) The SVEG holder still manages, operates and maintains the business activity, investment, enterprise or industry concerned.

SECTION 16. Replacement of Lost or Damaged SVEG Documentation. — Lost or damaged SVEG-related immigration documents issued under these Rules shall be replaced within 24 hours upon application at the BI or satellite office concerned, after submission of a duly-notarized affidavit of the lost SVEG or proof of the damaged SVEG and payment of appropriate fees as maybe assessed by the Alien Registration Division for lost I-Card. HScAEC

SECTION 17. Other Beneficiaries of Special Non-Immigrant Status. Fees. — The privileges of these Rules may extend to the alien spouse and dependent unmarried children below 18 years of age, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted. An application fee in the same amount as the principal shall be paid and collected by the spouse and its dependent children, for this purpose.

SECTION 18. BI Express Lanes and Services. — To ensure full enjoyment of multiple entry privileges under these Rules, the BI shall, at no additional costs, provide express lane facilities and services to all SVEG holders at the main and satellite offices, including sub-ports, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals I, II and III, Cebu and Clark Airports.

SECTION 19. Official Receipts for Payment of Fees. Accounting and Auditing Requirements. — All payments shall be acknowledged by bonded collecting officers via issuance of official receipts. And all collections shall be accounted-for as government funds and subject to strict auditing procedures. aAIcEH

SECTION 19A. Monitoring Requirement. Annual Report. — For the purpose of monitoring SVEG requirement as well as the employment of ten (10) long-term and full-time/regular Filipino workers, the SVEG holder shall at least one month after the year ends file a sworn report at the Office of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, supported by the following documents:

a. Latest General Information Sheet (GIS) duly stamped received by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);

b. Certification under oath from the Corporate Secretary that the SVEG holder is a bonafide employee holding managerial/executive position and/or a stockholder in good standing;

c. Mayor's Business Permit of the City/Municipality where the principal place of business is located;

d. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Inspection Report stating that the corporation/employer has no violation of existing labor laws and other applicable laws.

SECTION 20. Revocation of SVEG. Review by the Secretary of Justice. — The Commissioner of Immigration shall revoke the SVEG under these Rules: (i) If obtained by the alien through fraud or willful misrepresentation of material facts; (ii) Upon conviction of the alien by final judgment for a crime or offense in the Philippines or (iii) A final determination by competent authority that the alien poses a risk to the general welfare.

The applicant shall have within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Order of Revocation to file a petition for review to the Secretary of Justice.

SECTION 21. Additional Grounds for Revocation of SVEG. — The Commissioner of Immigration shall also revoke the SVEG, upon:

(a) Death of the SVEG holder;

(b) Withdrawal of investment or termination of the business activity, investment, enterprise or industry, except when there was a change in the type of business activity, investment, enterprise or industry, PROVIDED that, the alien qualifies for SVEG under these Rules. Termination of the business activity, investment, enterprise or industry, but in no case shall the SVEG holder terminate the business without prior notice to the Bureau of Immigration at least thirty (30) days before the actual closure;

(c) Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the SVEG; or

(e)  n Violation of other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 22. Failure/Inability to Maintain Ten (10) Filipino Workers. Review by the Secretary of Justice. — The SVEG holder shall always maintain the employment of ten (10) long-term and full-time/regular Filipino workers under these Rules. In case of failure or inability to comply, the SVEG holder shall immediately submit the reasons for non-compliance to the Commissioner of Immigration.

For meritorious reasons, the SVEG holder shall have a period of one (1) year employment requirement. Otherwise, the Commissioner of Immigration shall terminate the privileges of the SVEG. The termination of the SVEG may be reviewed via a petition for review to the Secretary of Justice within 15 days from notice.

SECTION 23. Effect of Final Conviction for a Crime, Offense, Fraud or Willful Misrepresentation. Review by the Secretary of Justice. — The revocation of the SVEG under Section 20 of these Rules shall cause deportation via summary proceedings. In the case of revocation under Section 20 (ii) and (iii), the deportation shall be implemented after service of sentence.

A foreigner under these Rules who is ordered deported by the BI Board of Commissioners under this section shall be transported to the country whence he/she came, or to the foreign port at which he/she embarked for the Philippines, or to the country of his/her nationality of or of which he/she is a citizen or a subject, or to the country in which he/she resided prior to coming to the Philippines. However, he/she may within 15 days from receipt of the deportation order file a petition for review to the Secretary of Justice. HCSEcI

SECTION 24. Maintenance and Safeguard of Digitized Data. — The Commissioner of Immigration shall implement such measures as may be necessary to maintain and safeguard the integrity of all data. He shall use available electronic technology to digitize all data subject of these Rules.

SECTION 25. Confidentiality of Records. — Any application, document or attachment submitted under these Rules shall not be divulged in any manner to any person or entity without the express written authority from the Commissioner of Immigration.

SECTION 26. Submission of Reports to the President and Secretary of Justice. — The Commissioner of Immigration shall submit regular copies of monthly auditing reports and copies of BI-issued SVEG with relevant attachments to the Office of the President and the Secretary of Justice.

SECTION 27. Periodic Inspection. Promulgation of Additional Rules. Creation of Oversight Committee. — The Commissioner of Immigration shall:

(a) Conduct periodic inspections to ensure compliance with these Rules;

(b) Promulgate additional rules as may be necessary to effectively carry-out the provisions of these Rules; and

(c) Create an Oversight Committee to regularly monitor the implementation of these Rules.

SECTION 28. Repeal and Amendments of Other Regulations. — Existing regulations that are inconsistent with these Rules are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 29. Effectivity. — This Memorandum Circular shall become effective immediately upon its publication in the newspaper of general circulation.

Let copies of this Memorandum Circular be filed with the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR) at the UP Law center, UP Complex, Diliman, Quezon City. CaTSEA

Done this 18th day of February 2009, in the City of Manila.

(SGD.) MARCELINO C. LIBANANCommissioner

Approved by:

(SGD.) HON. RAUL M. GONZALEZSecretary, Department of JusticePadre Faura, Manila

n Note from the Publisher: Letter "d" is not found in the official copy.

Published in The Philippine Star on February 21, 2009.