The Philippines Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) have signed a memorandum of agreement that will facilitate the issuance of special work permits (SWPs) to ECCP members doing business in the Philippines which have ECCP-sponsored visa applications.
The ECCP is a service-oriented organization whose main goal is to foster close economic ties and business relations between the Philippines and Europe. ECCP accomplishes this by providing a wide range of consultancy services and by creating linkages between companies, organizations and individuals with existing or potential business interests in Europe and the Philippines.
SPWs will be issued to ECCP members upon endorsement of ECCP. The SWPs could be used to expatriate officials/ staff of ECCP-member companies while they wait for the release of Department of Labor and Employment-issued Alien Employment Permit.
The SPWs will allow expatriates to work legally here while waiting for the release of the AEP which could be delayed for up to six months.
The MOU also provides that upon endorsement of ECCP, BID may issue single/multiple exit and re-entry permits for expats and their families. The BID shall also facilitate the issuance of work visas upon completion of processing by other government agencies such as the Board of Investment, Philippine Retirement Authority, Philippine Export Zone Authority, etc.
The MOU was signed by Commissioner Andrea Domingo and Atty. Ronaldo Ledesma for BID while ECCP was represented by its president Mr. William Bailey, executive vice president Mr. Henry Schumacher and investment promotion manager Mr. Gerry D. Constantino.
Source: http://www.eccp.com
