DOJ extends visa relief for foreigners stranded by Middle East conflict
The Philippine government has extended visa relief for foreign nationals who are unable to go back to their home countries because of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said on Tuesday that he signed a new directive extending the legal stay of affected foreigners up to May 1.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) took action ahead of the April 1 deadline originally given to many travelers who remain stranded in the country after war broke out in the Middle East.
Exempted from fines
“We extended the visa relief … There are still some visiting foreigners who have difficulty returning because of various constraints. So based on the order I signed yesterday, we are extending the [April 1 deadline] to May 1,” Vida said.
The DOJ emphasized that the extension was granted primarily for humanitarian reasons. It said the government aims to alleviate the legal anxieties of visitors trapped in the Philippines by circumstances beyond their control.
Under Department Order No. 159, those whose visas expired on or after Feb. 28 are exempt from overstaying fines, motion for extension fees, and other administrative penalties.
The relief, however, applies only to foreign nationals stranded due to mass flight cancellations and airspace closures linked to the Iran conflict and broader Middle East hostilities.
“We did this for humanitarian reasons and the premise of compassion so that their stay would no longer be a worry,” Vida said.
“We also pray that hopefully before the expiry of May 1, the issues have already been resolved,” he added, noting that the Bureau of Immigration has been instructed to facilitate these stays with minimal bureaucratic friction.
