Bureau of Immigration's foreign employer visa scheme creates 20,000 jobs

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration’s special visa scheme for foreign employers has created almost 20,000 jobs for Metro Manila residents since it was launched last year.

In his report to BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, BI legal officer Cris Villalobos said nearly 20,000 residents of Metro Manila were hired by 126 foreign businessmen availed themselves of the agency’s special visa for employment generation (SVEG) program. A total of 86 dependents also received SVEG visas. 

The government launched the SVEG last year that grants indefinite stay to foreigners and their dependents with investments in business enterprises employing 10 or more regular and full-time Filipino workers.

Villalobos, who heads the BI-SVEG one stop shop, said the government has earned more than P5 million since the program was launch in April last year. – Helen Flores