Consul General Adelino Cruz
(from left to right) Consul General Cruz, Farhana Ahmed, Florita Campbell, Mrs. Cruz & CFO Chairman Dr James Campbell
Consul General Cruz & Marie Cunning
Phoenix, Az– Consul General Adelino Cruz has dispelled ‘unconfirmed reports’ that American citizens and even Filipinos who have acquired American citizenship cannot enter the Philippines without a visa.
Consul General Cruz was the guest of honor during a business Mixer sponsored by the Filipino American Business Chamber of Commerce of Arizona in the West Valley.
Answering a question during the open forum, Consul General Cruz said, “ we have not rreceived any instruction or any directive from the Department of Foreign Affairs or from the Executive Department of the Philippines nor any instruction from Malacanang about this issue.”
“The policy is still the same and any rumor circulating around is not true,” Consul General Cruz said.
Under the present policy: American citizens have 30 days no-visa travel to the Philippines while former Filipinos who have acquired American citizenship can stay or travel to the Philippines without a visa and stay in the country for a period of one year. without a Visa.
Consul General Cruz was in the Metro Phoenix area to attend a ‘tourism promotion conference’ which was attended by travel agencies.
During his brief remarks at the FABCA Business Mixer at the West Valley, Consul General Cruz also informed his audience which include some Mexican businessmen, “that under the present administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines is a much-safer place to travel because of President Duterte’s new policy of change.”
“President Duterte is likewise in the process of recalibrating the Philippine policy,” Consul General Curz said even as he said that “President Duterte has mellowed down since he assumed the presidency in June this year.”
He likewise urged American corporations to continue to invest in the Philippines with the new policy of change under President Duterte.
“The new Cabinet members and other top government officials under the Duterte administration are in the process of reinnvigorating the Philippine economy,” Cruz said.
He likewise said that the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC in coordination with the different Consular Posts will soon revive the Ambassador Tour.
Cruz also urged the Filipinos in Arizona “to communicate with the Philippine Consulate General Office in Los Angeles on any issues and that we are ready to assist anybody and provide them the necessary assistance.”
“We are looking forward to have another visit in Arizona in order that we can build a stronger relationship between the Philippine Consulate General Office and the Filipino community in Arizona.”
Among those who attended the event are: Marie Cunning, President of the Federation of Philippine Chambers of Commerce of American; Dr. James Campbell, Chairman of the Council of Filipino Organizations of Arizona; Barry Wong of the Office of the Arizona Governor; Farhana Ahmed, Chairperson of the AZ Republication Asian Coalition, Gary Ong of the Chinese Restaurant Association, Albert Lin, president of Asian American Association of Arizona and other Filipino community leader and business owners, Mexican business owners as well as other Asian community leaders and business owners.
