Yes, as a general rule I agree that reciprocity is the best policy. And yes, I agree that should even be applied to visa issuance including the visa cost; the US used to charge countries the same as their countries charged the US but I don’t think that is true anymore. But what do you do when the Western countries do not grant airport tourist visas but the Philippines does? Well, there is no treaty and they could always do that and have threatened to do so (my country yawned at that) but that would kill their foreign tourist industry. Right, reciprocity in land ownership, bank accounts, health care (Canada and Europe and emergency room for Americans), all of the US bill of rights; I know, that would never happen lol but good to dream lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know a Filipino in London who paid rent on his Council house for a few years and then bought it at a huge discount - now it must be worth at least £500,000 (about 30 million pesos). Time to make a country understand that how it treats aliens in its country is how its citizens will be treated elsewhere - but Western governments are just too 'kind'.
There is probability IMO that the Philippines doesn't want foreigners to own land. People with big money eg China could buy up all the farm land and the country could end up being virtual slaves. In Vancouver Canada there have been hugh investments in residential properties by Chinese. That has driven the price of housing beyond the grasp of many locals. Speculation in the housing market has become so bad there is now a hefty tax on unoccupied homes
I can see you point, but the foreign money is flowing into land anyway - it is just that it ends up being owned by Filipinos. I understand Robin Hood is popular here - I know why. This becomes a major issue for foreigners paying for the land and house and then risking it all when the partner leaves or dies. I cite the foreigner in Mindanao who took his ill wife to Cebu for treatment, where where she died. He returned to his house to find the late wife's family in occupation. He knew it would take years in Court to assert any limited rights he had but he died within two years of his wife and never got any settlement. I think the government understands this and likes the status quo as a way of transferring foreign cash permanently into the Philippines. It is up to foreign governments to give them a wake-up call. Filipinos in foreign countries are contributing to increase in property values there, in a small way perhaps.
I think they are wrong though. Lot’s of smaller countries in the Caribbean allow private ownership and the locals still have their land. But, countries can and should decide for themselves what they want; it’s just that there should be reciprocation, a cost involved for disallowing foreigners to buy land. If I cannot buy here, they should not be allowed to buy in my country. The US has the same problems with foreign speculation but it is also an opportunity for some Americans to make a good profit on some of the most desirable real estate in the planet for foreigners, commercially and residential. Why should the rules not apply equally both ways? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reciprocity is a slippery slope. It could lead to everything being open to everyone or everything being closed to everyone but citizens. The issue is that different countries have different needs, goals and resources (real estate/tourism/business/development). Global economics and politics are just too complicated and nuanced for such a simple solution.
I would have to disagree, but with purely selfish motive. British Citizenship has enabled my wife and son to travel to the UK and live there long enough to build a retirement fund, whilst also benefiting from the relative freedom (until now at least! Brexit is killing some of that) that a British passport offers. We could not then have moved to the Philippines without her re-attaining her citizenship here. Believe me going through those citizenship processes and the hurdles before that in the UK was a lot of stress, cost and at times heartache, but worth it in the long run. Ethically, you are probably right.
Why did she have to re-attain PI citizenship to move back here? Just curious. My wife is ex-Filipina with US citizenship and we are here now. Ex-Filipino can get a low deposit courtesy SRRV permanent residency and her sponsor foreign spouse. I know I used the word “ethically” but it is too stern and really doesn’t convey what I mean. My wife (the ex-Filipina) feels whatever that word should be so that is why we are here on SRRV instead of dual with 13a. In reality, it makes no difference except for her perception. Having said that, SRRV gets you through the diplomatic line at immigration and never requires an exit clearance to get out but we later learned that you are treated as a tourist instead of a citizen during pandemics making it hard to come back during the crisis. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
i thought the protection for foreigners with regards to this issue is to execute a long term lease concurrently when the property is purchased? it doesn't prevent the final outcome of filipino ownership but it does protect the original money guy from being disposessed? just asking