DeLeon Guerrero: PH House resolution is welcome
Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) says stride made by the Philippine House of Representatives to be included in the Guam/CNMI Visa Waiver program are welcome.
It’s no secret that the CNMI is facing an economic downturn due to the rather slow recovery of its tourism industry.
Fortunately, a new market is a possibility for the Marianas with the Philippine House of Representatives recently passing a resolution to enlist the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs to gain inclusion to the Guam/CNMI visa waiver program.
In an interview with DeLeon Guerrero, she said the resolution passed by the Philippine House of Representatives is welcome.
“Any market that can bring tourists to the Commonwealth should be embraced and welcomed. If countries [like the Philippines] are allowed to travel to the United States to include the CNMI, then why not. I believe there is support from the legislature to include the Philippines in the Guam/CNMI visa waiver program,” she said.
Noting that Philippine Airlines used to fly to Saipan, DeLeon Guerrero said the possibility of PAL’s return would be good for the Commonwealth.
“Way back in time, we had visitors from the Philippines coming in. If I recall correctly, we even had Philippine Airlines coming into the CNMI but then that stopped. So again, if that’s something that could come back and bring tourists from the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, any other country, then why not. Tourist money is not identified by their ethnicity, it’s by currency and that’s what we need,” she said.
Last week, the Philippine House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass House Resolution 332 which essentially enlists the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs to request U.S. President Joseph Biden to include the country in the existing Guam/CNMI visa waiver program.
Philippine House Resolution 332 was first introduced by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez in 2022.
The Philippine Senate introduced a similar bill back in 2023 but it remains pending.
So far, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, the Marianas Visitors Authority, and the Hotel Association of the NMI have expressed their support for resolution.
Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero
