Labor department suspends temporarily alien employment permits in Boracay

July 3, 2018

The Department of Labor and Employment Tuesday said it suspended temporarily issuing alien employment permits (AEPs) to foreign nationals in Boracay Island.

Based on Labor Advisory No. 11-2018 signed last June 26 but released Tuesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the temporary suspension covers foreign nationals, who intend to engage in  employment in the island of Boracay, as well as those with valid AEP and intend to renew them.

"The suspension shall take effect until the temporary closure of the Boracay Island has been lifted," said Bello.

In April when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered closure of Boracay for six months after he described the world famous resort-island as having become a “cesspool”.

Bello said exempted from temporary suspension shall be foreign nationals, who were commissioned or authorized by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, particularly those who come to Boracay to conduct research or undertake work related to the rehabilitation.

Also exempted, Bello added, are permanent resident foreign nationals and probationary or temporary resident visa holders. DMS