Visayas Oil Spill

MANILA, Philippines -- All foreigners employing Filipino workers in their businesses in the country must apply for a Certificate of Employment (CE) before they could be issued with the special visa, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said foreign businessmen and expatriates employing at least 10 local workers and intending to operate their businesses in the country for a long period should apply for CE.

The certification, he said, would be a prerequisite for the issuance of the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Roque's directive was contained in a memorandum circular he issued to all DOLE regional offices three weeks ago."

As issued, "the (CE) shall attest that the entity, firm, partnership or corporation where the applicant-foreign national has controlling interest employs at least 10 full time or regular Filipino workers on a long term basis in the Philippines," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had ordered the issuance of the SVEG to entice foreign investments and provide employment opportunities to at least 100,000 workers.

Roque said applications for CE should include a true photocopy of the payroll documents and a notarized affidavit regarding the number of Filipino workers the company employed.

"In turn, if the request is found in order, the DOLE [regional office] concerned shall issue the CE within 24 hours after receipt of request with the supporting document, or inform the applicant in writing if there is any discrepancy in the documents submitted," Roque said.

Meanwhile, the BI said it had started the construction of its field office in Boracay to help foreign businessmen in the paradise island resort in applying for SVEG and other travel papers.

BI commissioner Marcelino Libanan said the field office would be built on a 150-square-meter property in Barangay (Village) Balabag in Malay, Aklan.

"We can't ignore the fact that Boracay is one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines. More tourists means more jobs for Filipinos, that's why we want to lure in more foreign investors by giving them convenient ways in doing their business here," Libanan said.

He said they have given SVEG to 27 foreign nationals in Aklan.

"SVEG gives further convenience to foreign investors who want to do their business here in Boracay," said Libanan.