DFA reintroduces APEC travel card to Cebu bizmen

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) re-introduced the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) to the Cebu business community on Monday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Led by assistant secretary Neil Frank R. Ferrer and director Oliver C. Delfin, the agency announced their objective to partner with business groups here to increase the number of card holders in Cebu.

The ABTC is a travel document issued to business travellers who are citizens of APEC participating economies. Valid for five years, the card eliminates the need for its holder to possess a visa when visiting other APEC participating economies as long as pre-clearance has been obtained during the application process.

The first ABTC Cebu roadshow, which was attended by business leaders of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), aimed at disseminating information on the ABTC regime to Philippine businesses and increase the base of Filipino ABTC holders.

Delfin announced that the agency is decentralizing its partnership with Certifying Business Organizations (CBOs) to regional areas like Cebu.

Already, the ABTC endorsements were granted to Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Makati Business Club (MBC) and Philexport. This time, Cebuano distinguished businessmen can process their applications through their respective business groups for convenience. Individual applications will also be accommodated.

On the other hand, MCCI past president Stanley Go said, while the move of DFA-OCA is welcome, local businessmen need to see more value propositions in obtaining the privilege card, other than “prestige.”

CCCI president Virgilio Espeleta agreed with Go saying, “looks like the value proposition of the card is not justifiable.”

Acquiring an ABTC costs P5,00 with five years validity, through CBOs.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC was established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. APEC’s 21 Economies aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration. They jointly work towards the realization of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific and the establishment of greater regional community to address the economic and social dimensions of development.

The 21 APEC members include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

In 1996, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Declaration and Ministerial Statement approved the recommendation to consider a faster mobility of businesspersons within the region through, among others, visa-waiver arrangements and multiple-entry business visa. This was the foundation of the ABTC.

As of December 31, 2019, there are only 1,170 active Filipino cardholders, Ferrer hopes that with roadshows and adjustments in the application procedure, such as creating regional CBOs, number of cardholders will increase significantly.

Promoting ABTC in the Philippines paves the way for a more productive exchange and cooperation between the public and private sectors, towards greater and hassle-free business mobility within the APEC region as well as in the effective promotion of Philippine tourism and investments into the country, Ferrer concluded.