Saturday, July 26, 2008 Foreign athletes need work permit to play in RP
FOREIGN athletes will only be allowed to play in any sports in the country after securing special work permit (SWP) from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The provision is included in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the bureau and the Amusement Board (GAB) early this week.
Under the MOA, “No foreign professional athlete or player shall participate in any form of professional tournaments and sports competition in the country unless and until he or she obtains the required special work permit from the bureau and professional license from the GAB.”
The agreement was signed by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and GAB chairman and former Southeast Asian Games medalist Eric Buhain.
In cases where a foreign athlete claims Philippine citizenship, the MOA also stated that he is required to present a certificate of recognition of Philippine citizenship that was duly affirmed by the secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The agreement also indicated that the BI will only issue an SWP to a foreign athlete if his application for such permit has been endorsed by the GAB, the agency that regulates and supervises all professional sports and games in the country.
Applicants are also required to submit a photocopy of his or her passport with a valid authorized stay, and secure a clearance certificate from the bureau as proof that he or she has no derogatory record with the bureau.
Moreover, the applicant needs to submit his application for an SWP within 24 hours from his arrival in the country or the next working day if he arrives on a weekend.
All foreign athletes are covered by the MOA, including those who play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The BI, however, noted that the MOA will not affect the existing agreement of the BI with the PBA which similarly requires foreign players in the league to first apply for an SWP with the bureau before shooting hoops in the hard-court. (FP/Sunnex)
