Best Posts in Forum: Dumaguete City

Mark, if you are going to buy 2 + hectares of land, you can consider checking out Bacong. Land is cheaper than most places and lots available up the hill. Going to Dumaguete from the south is arguably faster and less hassle than from the north. One of the downsides, however, is night time driving. Too many bikes and vehicles without lights.

 

I have been tracking this subject since 2008. Nothing has been passed, at this time, to allow sr citizen foreigners to have the sr citizen discount card. In fact there is a potential serious penalty if you are caught using one. A friend tried at Dauin, another tried at Dumaguete recently, and I recently tried at Bacong. We were all turned down - doesn’t matter if you are a permanent resident. I know some guys who have and used the card. Personally, I have too much to lose to obtain and use one.
I doubt the current government will ever amend the law.

 

I would agree that 75% of Filipino's know little to nothing about their own government or its laws. A recent ABS poll showed that 73% of Filipino's don't know what type of government they have.
If you run a business or do any kind of thing that involves working with the government you will get a taste of corruption and lack of knowledge about the laws.
Basically the system works on second hand rumors and hearsay about laws ( even from the people who work for the government) and bribes. Government organizations make up stuff as they go with total disregard for what is actual written law.
I good example of this is the DFA. If you have a spouse and want a passport for your spouse you go to the DFA and apply. BUT since the spouse has a foreigner as partner the DFA will refuse to issue the passport until the applicant goes to either Cebu or Manila for a seminar and get a certificate from the CSA to show to the DFA. That is a made up requirement by the DFA and is illegal. Nothing in the Laws of the Philippines gives the DFA that authority. I challenged the Iloilo DFA and reported their behavior to the DFA Manila and the DOJ. I received a letter of apology and my wife's passport was sent via courier to our house. After we moved here I discovered that the Dumaguete DFA still practices this illegal requirement and people still make two and three trips to Cebu to get the CSA stamp and certificate in their spouses passport. You do not need the CSA certificate until you are trying to leave the Philippines with your spouse. The Passport law is very clear and concise. Every Filipino is entitled to a passport unless they are a convicted felon or are under prosecution for a felony. Nothing in that law states an exception if married to a foreigner.

 

Again, thanks all for the great tips. Although I hate to move multiple times, we might be best off getting a place for a month or 2 then with boots on the ground looking for a 6 month - 1 year rental.