Manila, Nov. 30 -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said the rules on the implementation of the visa upon arrival (VUA) scheme has already been tightened early this year.
"Admission is already itinerary-based, with a maximum stay of 30 days. VUAs may no longer be extended or converted to any type of visa," Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a press statement.
This came after Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the bureau to terminate the VUA scheme for Chinese nationals to stop the crimes involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers.
Morente said before the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the VUA scheme accounted for only about 5 percent of the total arrivals of Chinese nationals in the countr...