Should expat residents be allowed to own property/ business.

All the posts here have points and no matter how contradicting they were, i do agree with all of them. (regarding the thoughts they want to be heard).

But consider the different economies we have, Philippines is just a very poor nation, still very young, and still developing (i hope!).
A huge number of residents are below the middle class, then pretty good number of middle class, and only a small percent of rich people. (yep, including the sick corrupt officials). So if foreigners are allowed to own private properties here, which they could easily acquire, then what will happen to us, the locals?
Foreigners will flock here for various reasons aside just from being able to own properties. WE have different economies and currencies, and we are no match for that. Most foreigners will come here, retire, own a property or a number of properties due to the low cost of living, high income but low/cheap expenses (you earn in your currency, you spend in pesos, so of course), and maybe you like it here because of the environment; tropical and nature is beautiful (well, only applies to Palawan now, IMHO) and plus other factors: like maybe wife, gf, and the people themselves; friendly, hospitable, and have much greater edge in communication (in english).
So yeah, if foreigners could own that easily, then there will come a time, that majority of the land owners are foreigners because you can just easily afford one or two (dozens), while us locals, have a really hard time getting one, we even have hard time paying for the rent!

I know you think it's unfair, because some places permit other nationalities to own properties in their land, consider America. BUT come to think of this, would they be "threatened" if a Filipino owns a property there? No. Why? Because of their economy. It doesn't even affect them i think, plus America is so huge (talking about land mass) over it's total population. Just 200 million of them. Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think there was one time where they encouraged people to come over and live there. Not sure, but i think i've read it somewhere. Or maybe just a figment of my imagination. Any event, what about my country? Gosh, it's overly populated here with regards to the country's land mass. We are like hovering to 100 million yet the country's so small. So i think, there's a huge difference to that.

About business.
Yeah, this is kind of frustrating too. Because if the Constitution would allow foreign investors and businessmen to create/make business here and run them under their name and full ownership, there could have been hundreds of buildings and business created, which would mean, hundreds of jobs, and a great help to the economy. A HUGE help, actually.
But i dunno, i agree, the government needs to revise somehow the existing law.

Ownership of business and private properties are two different things i guess, and can be possibly given different status to accommodate the welfare of both sides.

So the original post said you wonder how it would feel like if foreigners can own properties here?
Well, take your comment as my answer. It feels just like that (modified ending).

"I am wondering what the feeling is here on this one,, myself i would not allow a Filipino or any other foreign national to own land or a business in my home country unless it was reciprocal."

Yep, there's a point. Myself, i would not allow other foreign national to own lands (business? nah, i am pro to foreigners owning businesses here, it surely makes a lot of benefits over deficits) in my home country unless it is reasonable and deserved.

Yeah, the only way foreigners can own properties here is to have a local (usually GF, wife, partner) and put the property in his/her name, which is very risky. And i know a lot of foreigners are being robbed properties because of that, which i am totally against to.
I think this is one of the major issues why foreigners should be entitled to their properties. And i do support it, but not the "easy-acquired" properties BUT to cases like these.

Have you seen a program from GMA where it documented foreign nationals who became really poor citizens here? And some of them became like that because their partner/wife/gf stole the property which is listed under their name. And i think that's really awful. I think you guys should watch it so you will be aware.

 

There are permanent resident visas and retirement visas that do not require you to be married; however, back to Rhoody's post, you have to put big bucks in a local bank.

 

Mr. Wrye83, yeah thanks. I understand. Resident visa and spousal visa are different. Yep, thank you for refreshing me to that.

About resident visa.

Yes, when a foreign national is given that, i think it would be fair and legal enough (and humanly, even if he doesn't have that visa) to give a foreign national the basic rights to live in a local community and i do agree that allowing them will just create few problems. I don't even think allowing them would create even a problem. Problems will only occur if they became hostile or become irresponsible citizens or something like that. I think, it's even a great help to the local community and economy because dollars come in.
Allowing them to live is never an issue at least for me.

But allowing them private properties? My opinion really depends. Because not all foreigners are the same. (human tendencies and behavior). Some deserves and is rightful to have properties and some are just total as*h*les. And same is true with the local people. And all of these are true in all the places in the world.
So, yeah, it really depends, because i am pro and against it depending on the circumstances.
I know some really really good foreign nationals who care a lot more about my country than some of my Filipino friends, but i also know a lot of foreign nationals who are just i dunno, "nuisance?" Who think they are some king and are like "hey you brownie, serve me for i am thy master." so i hope you get what i mean. Some do deserve the right, some don't.

And about the business.

I am a supporter of it sir.
I support and will be glad to have foreigners creating businesses here. It's a great help to the people and the economy. And i support the right of ownership they must have.
And also, i think the locals here must be taught what "customer service" is. Get what i mean? I know, it's sad.

 

I will share my experience with getting a permanent quota visa. Prior to Dec. 2009 I had a temporary work permit visa renewable each year my company got for me. When I left that company I applied for a permanent U.S. quota visa. A filipino friend put me in contact with a guy who worked at the BI in Manila. I was told that there are standard application fees shown on the BI website (18k pesos) but that to assure one of the 50, my "actual" fee would be 240,000 pesos. I was single but my exwife also applied and her fee was the same. It was explained that, at that time, there were three Commissioners and the 50 allotment were split between the three and that they would only issue a few in January and then hold out the remaining few for "auction" for a higher price later in the year. I checked with other expats and it seemed their fees ranged from 100K pesos to 300K depending on the year they applied. All the paperwork was walked through for me and I just had to take a partial physical skipping the urine sample. I had to show a local bank statement with a minimum $40,000 balance. However, unlike the retirement visa, you do not have to keep that balance in the bank or invest the $40K.
Was I used and abused? Probably, but I did receive the permanent visa in early Jan. 2010. Did I support corruption or bribery? Not sure, those were the fees required, but of course if I only had to spend 18K pesos that would have been nice. But my guess is if that was the "actual" cost, thousands of people would be applying annually for the 50 allotment. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Note: I later heard those Commissioner appointments are much sought after jobs. lol.

 

Well you can't say they didn't try to push the Americans out...

Philippine–American War

 

You are apparently missing the point. The fact of the matter is if you want to be assured of getting a quota visa, that is or was the process, a take it or leave it, the next guy will take it - only 50 to give out and a magnitude more wanting one.