Romulo back from Tokyo empty-handed

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo returned from Japan empty-handed yesterday, even while assuring Filipinos that the Japanese government’s stricter immigration policy is meant to stop illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

The Japanese government, Romulo said, did not formulate the new policy to reduce the number of Filipino workers employed in Japan, primarily as entertainers.

He brought home welcome news that the Japanese government will not make the new immigration policy retroactive, saying Tokyo "is not targeting any numerical reduction in the number of entries for entertainers."

However, the Japanese government "is concerned with the legitimate entertainers," he said. "As far as the training and experience (requirement) of two years is concerned, it would count the experience and training (conducted) in the Philippines."

Romulo arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Tokyo on board Japan Airlines (JAL) Flight JL-741 at 1:30 p.m. yesterday. He was interviewed by airport reporters at the NAIA Dignitaries’ Lounge upon his arrival.

Romulo met with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura over new immigration laws that will affect foreign entertainers seeking work in Japan. Romulo also met with the Japanese ministers of justice, health and labor and welfare.

He said pending visa applications submitted before March 1 — before the new immigration laws take effect — will not be covered by Japan’s new immigration policy.

"All those (visa applications) pending as of now will be considered," Romulo said.

He added that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will meet with representatives of various overseas performing artists’ (OPA) organizations, talent managers and promotion agencies regarding Japan’s new immigration laws.

He earlier said the Philippines had asked Japan to defer the implementation of its immigration policy — a request that ultimately did not bear fruit.

He also said diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan have not been adversely affected by Japan’s new immigration restrictions.

"(Japan’s) only concern is to apply the anti-trafficking laws, which (the Philippines) also has to apply because that’s our law," he said. "We want to assure (the public) that the legitimate entertainers will be accepted."

He said that Philippines will also do its share to help stop human trafficking by having the DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and other concerned agencies coordinate with the Japanese embassy in Manila.

The move to tighten immigration procedures came after Japan was placed on a United States watch-list for sexual exploitation and slavery due to the large number of foreign women who end up working in Japan’s vast and mostly tolerated sex industry.

Romulo said entertainers seeking work in Japan will have to go through a screening process in the Philippines "so that legitimate entertainers will be protected."