33 Baguio-based Koreans granted special visas

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-three Koreans in the Philippines have been given the special visa for employment generation (SVEG) by the Bureau of Immigration for employing at least 10 Filipino workers each. Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan on Wednesday said the 33, including 12 principal applicants and 21 dependents, are either owners or incorporators of various language schools in the northern city of Baguio. They employ a total 672 Filipino full-time workers, mostly English language instructors, Libanan said. The recipients are Ahn Yong Yun, Kwang Hyu Choi, Lee Sang Gil, Jung Jungeim, Hwa Seo Lee, Lee Jung Jae, Kim Jong Kyu, Kyung Yeab Lee, Seung Hee Yoon, Young Ghun Han, Yong Duk Yeo and Eom Sun Yong. Ricardo Cabochan, acting BI-Baguio City alien control officer, said the 12 Koreans principals have fully complied with the requirements for the issuance of the SVEG. Among the requirements are certificate from the Department of Labor and Employment; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency clearance; and certificates of the PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig and Social Security System benefits of their workers. Cabochan said the Koreans come from eight language schools in Baguio, namely the Choice and Success International Language School, Pines International Academy, Care and Share International Language School, Campus Mission International Phils., Global Connect English Learning Center, Globalize Language Center Corp., and Help English Language Program, Inc. Libanan said that with the introduction of SVEG, he expects more and more businessmen and entrepreneurs to avail of the new visa which will enable them to stay in the country indefinitely. He said BI data show that at least 10,000 foreign businessmen and entrepreneurs who are holders of working and investor visas and are setting up businesses in Baguio. “We are encouraging other foreigners doing business in Baguio to avail of this visa as this is our way of reciprocating them for the jobs and livelihood opportunities that they provide our countrymen," Libanan said. Ahn, one of the recipients and president of the United Korean Community Association in Northern Luzon, said they were very thankful to the Bureau of Immigration for giving them a chance to bring progress and development in the country. He also promised to help the bureau in encouraging his compatriot-businessmen to avail the visa and in return, help in bringing new job opportunities to the Filipino people. Libanan said the BI had already issued SVEG to two Americans, a Chinese, a Malaysian, and a Taiwanese businessmen. Under the rules, the SVEG is issued to a foreigner with an interest in a company or entity that employs at least 10 full-time and regular Filipinos workers either for managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled, or unskilled positions. A foreigner applying for the visa shall certify that he or she maintains a lawful immigration status in the Philippines; engaged in a viable and sustainable business; exercises managerial acts with authority to employ, promote and dismiss employees; and evinces a genuine intention to indefinitely remain in the country. - GMANews.TV