Foreigners may need a visa before entering the philippines

That might anger Duterte since the Chinese are his love children

 

Having read the proposed law (PL) (as several others have remarked already, this proposal might or might not materialise into an actual law), this is my take on the changes:
1. The PL proposes a new government agency, the Commission on Immigration (CI) that will take over all duties from the current Bureau of Immigration (BI). Basically it is a reorganisation. The PL does provide for regional offices for the CI, so let's hope the Dumaguete office will survive.
2. The PL does not mandate issuance of visa's overseas. The CI however may make such overseas visa's mandatory rather than optional for nationals of a particular country (but, as far as I know, that is nothing new either).
It does not seem likely that the CI would choose to do so for visitors from countries that generate decent economic benefits for the Philippines from tourism (you don't want to deter tourists by making things hard), so most likely for most expats who are staying here on a tourist visa the issuance at the "port of entry" will not change.
3. What will change (if the PL makes it into actual law unchanged) is the initial 30 days visa will go to 60 days.
4. Under the PL extensions of tourist visa will still be available, but for a maximum of 24 months rather than the current 36.
5. For those of us who married a Filipina, it will still be possible under the PL to gain permanent residence. Whether the current 13a visa and 12 months balikbayan stamp will survive is unclear.
6. Apparently the current "Exit clearance" will be replaced by an "emigration clearance", that will apply to all temporary visitors. No mention is made of an exemption for those who stayed in the country for less than 6 months.
7. If you leave the Philippines with the intention to return, the PL introduces a "re-entry fee", to be paid before you leave. Payment of that fee would ensure your "visa category" is maintained upon re-entry.

 

will be applying for 13a in the coming months and would ask if I should postpone until this PL revealed in detail and time frame for passage ?

 

Maybe, but hopefully it will kick out all the guys nobody wants to have them here - and that are a lot!
I really hope they decide to let that work!

 

This is a great idea. All other countries I have visited required copies of bank statements to extend my tourist visa while in country.

 

Sounds good but fraud sensitive; my opinion, unless they can check your real balance by inquiring @your bank. Any one who knows how Photoshop works can make what ever....!!