WELCOME TO MANILA: Some 300 Afghan nationals, among them children, arrive in the Philippines aboard a chartered flight on Monday to complete the processing of their US special immigrant visas for their immigration to the United States. They are allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of 59 days. —Photo courtesy of US Embassy
MANILA, Philippines — About 300 Afghan nationals — at least half of them minors — arrived in the Philippines on Monday aboard a chartered flight to complete the processing of their special immigrant visas (SIVs) for their resettlement to the United States.
Under an agreement between Washington and Manila signed in 2024, not a single peso is expected to be spent by the Filipino people as the US government will provide all necessary services for the SIV applicants during their temporary stay in the Philippines, including food, housing, medical care, security and transportation until their visas have been processed.
Article continues after this advertisementDepartment of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said the Afghan nationals were provided entry visas after they had completed extensive security vetting and undergone full medical screenings before their arrival.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION NAIA takes off as Marcos legacy in modernization GLOBALNATION Canada’s Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party leader GLOBALNATION UAE pardons 220 Filipinos – DFAThe applicants will stay in a secure, undisclosed billet facility and will be allowed to leave only once to attend their consular interview at the US Embassy in Manila.
READ: Imee Marcos questions PH’s decision to host US-bound Afghan refugees
Article continues after this advertisementThis was contrary to a plan discussed in an earlier Senate hearing led by Sen. Imee Marcos, one of the critics of the joint project, for the applicants to leave the billet facility for medical screenings, as the US government had arranged for all medical exams to be completed in Afghanistan before their departure for Manila.
Article continues after this advertisement Better life in the USThe Afghan nationals seeking resettlement primarily worked for the US government in Afghanistan or were deemed eligible for SIVs but were left behind when Washington withdrew from the country and Taliban militants took back power in a chaotic period in 2021.
Article continues after this advertisementA US Department of State official, in a recent briefing, shared the background of the Afghan nationals, describing them as individuals and families “who took the chance to come and work” for the US government, sharing their dream of building public health and education for a better future for the children.
“They wanted us to succeed with these programs … to create a better life for their kids and their hard work helped us a lot but in the end fast forward to August 2021 it worked and the government fell,” the US official said, referring to the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.
Article continues after this advertisement“So Americans, particularly those who worked so hard there, think we owe them the future that we tried to build in their country in America. And we’re very grateful to you, this government, you Filipino people, for helping us,” the official added.
A senior Philippine official, who also asked not to be named in this report, shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that the joint project reflects the two countries’ shared commitment.
The milestone underscores the company’s shift toward replacing cigarettes with smoke-free alternatives such as IQOS.
During his speech at the 2023 Philippine Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) in Malacañang, he emphasized the Philippines’ potential as one of the world’s mineral-rich countries.
“Let everyone be clear that this is about our shared desire and our shared commitment to provide the children, women, and men who are part of this entire project the opportunity to start anew and to rebuild their lives with hope in a better future,” said the official.
Not a danger to societyThe official clarified that the Afghan nationals are not refugees.
“These people are not considered to be a danger to our society and to the communities in which they will be hosted temporarily as their visas are processed here,” the official said during a briefing ahead of the Afghan nationals’ arrival.
According to the Philippine official, the program will last only 100 days, meaning all SIV applicants must leave the Philippines by March.
house of fun bonusHowever, their individual stay is capped at a maximum of 59 days.
If, for any reason, they cannot complete visa processing within the designated period or are deemed ineligible to stay, they will be required to leave the Philippines.
The US government assured the Philippines that any unprocessed applicants would be relocated to another country or platform, the official added.
Since the US government will bear all costs for the sustainment of the applicants while they are in the Philippines, the arrangement is therefore “expected to generate businesses and jobs in the host community,” the official noted.
“The US government, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration as facility manager, will ensure the applicants, especially children, receive adequate social, educational, religious and emotional support during their stay,” the official said.
“This was never a demand on the part of the US. This was a request, this was a joint project that we had with the US government, and there was never any pressure [or] negotiating leverage exercised against us in regard to this particular project,” the Philippine official added.
The US government formalized its proposal for this joint project in October 2022 through a “concept note” submitted to Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez.
Rekindled relationsUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken first relayed the request to his Philippine counterpart in 2022, and President Joe Biden discussed the request with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he visited the United States last year.
The agreement was officially signed on July 29, 2024.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Marcos has rekindled relations with the United States since winning the presidency by a landslide margin two years ago.fb777
—WITH REPORTS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY READ NEXT Canada’s Trudeau: Liberal star who dazzled then fizzled US Congress urged to reconsider bill vs ICC EDITORS' PICK Comelec begins printing of ballots for 2025 polls Golden Globes: Demi Moore’s first win, Denzel Washington makes history Labor groups join call to halt SSS premium hike Manila ex-waste contractor denies abandoning duty, cites payment issues Canada’s Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party leader NSC: No proof yet China behind crashed drone MOST READ ‘Monster’ still in PH waters, ignores PCG call to leave Manila’s ex-trash collector: We didn’t abandon duty, we weren’t paid NAIA takes off as Marcos legacy in modernization PH starts temporary hosting of 300 Afghans Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments