NAG-ISYU ng advisory si Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco para bigyan ng palugit ang lahat ng dayuhan na naapektuhan ng flight cancellations nitong Bagong Taon.
“All foreign nationals whose flight were cancelled or delayed after the Air Traffic Management Center (AMTC) of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippine (CAAP) encountered technical issues that affected flight to and from the Philippines on January 1 were given a grace period on the validity of their authorized stay and their Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC),” nakasaad sa advisory.
Sa visas at ECCs na nag-expire sa nabanggit na araw ay binibigyan ng grace period extension hanggang Enero 12 at pinapayagan na magpa-rebook sa kanilang flights na walang karagdagang immigration penalties.
“Considering what happened to many foreign nationals who were unable to leave during their scheduled flights, we issued this advisory to assist them in rescheduling, without having to worry about overstaying,” ayon kay Tansingco.
Ang mga dayuhan ay kinakailangan lang na ipakita ang kanilang ticket na nakansela ang kanilang flights mula Enero1 pati ang kanilang boarding pass.
“This extension is given in the spirit of the hospitality of Filipino people,” ayon Tansingco. “Those who were affected did not mean to overstay their visas, hence appropriate considerations are given to them,” dagdag pa ng BI Chief.
PAUL ROLDAN/FROILAN MORALLOS