Philippine Immigration

Before hitting the hard-court or getting into any sports action in the country, foreign athletes must secure a special work permit (SWP) first from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

This was stated in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed last Tuesday by BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman and former SEA Games medalist Eric Buhain.
According to the MOA: “No foreign professional athlete or player shall participate in any form of professional tournaments and sports competition in the country unless and until he or she obtains the required special work permit from the Bureau and professional license from the GAB.”

Through the MOA, Libanan and Buhain will be working together to ensure that all foreign sportsmen who compete or get an athletic employment in the country have necessary work permits from the BI.

In cases where a foreign athlete claims Philippine citizenship, the MOA also stated that he is required to present a certificate of recognition of Philippine citizenship that was duly affirmed by the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

It was also indicated in the MOA that the BI will only issue an SWP to a foreign athlete if his application for such permit has been endorsed by the GAB, the agency that regulates and supervises all professional sports and games in the country.

The applicant is also required to submit a photocopy of his or her passport with a valid authorized stay, and secure a clearance certificate from the BI as proof that he or she has no derogatory record with the bureau.

Moreover, the applicant, through his promoter, must submit his application for an SWP within 24 hours from his arrival in the country or the next working day if he arrives on a weekend.Manuel Ferdinand Arbas, BI technical staff chief, said all foreign athletes are covered by the MOA, including those who play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Arbas said the MOA will not affect the existing agreement of the BI with the PBA which similarly requires foreign players in the league to first apply for an SWP with the bureau before shooting hoops in the hard-court. (BI News)