In January 2008, the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) Project was initiated when the SCAD Council signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the CDC and SBMA that called for a harmonized and standardized ICQ Manual that will facilitate the fast and seamless transfer of goods, people and services to and from Subic and Clark.

On March 2008, the SCAD Council engaged the consultancy services of the Gaticales, Uvero and Sto. Tomas Law Office to assist the Council in facilitating the drafting of the Manual. The first draft was submitted to the Office of the SCAD Council Chairman last November 24, 2008.

One of the major accomplishments of the ICQ Project is the automation of the Transit and Admission Permit System (e-TAPS). The e-TAPS enables locators to electronically lodge their import permit applications, pay the required fees and print the system-generated permit. It covers cargo discharge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Port of Manila, the Manila International Container Port, the Port of Subic and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. Customs Freeport Zone Offices (CFZOs) were also set up in these ports.

  The e-TAPS is in compliance with the Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) that provides for the single submission of a Transit Admission Permit in lieu of a number of documents that slows down the process, among which are the Import Permit, Bureau of Customs Import Entry Declaration, Warehouse Entry, Transshipment Permit and Boatnote. Furthermore, e-TAPS reduces the processing time of every transaction from 4 days to 2 minutes, cuts down the cost from 175 pesos to 55 pesos, and improves the system integrity of the government because it lessens face-to-face transactions.

The policies and provisions of the MOA and the JMO among CDC, SBMA, SCADC and the BOC are based on international standards that equip Subic and Clark with future system linkages with the major ports of the world like Kaoshiung, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Incheon. The e-TAPS was fully implemented on December 1, 2008.

After studying existing immigration policies, the consultancy firm crafted a harmonized and streamlined work permit and visa system for Subic and Clark that will allow a more efficient approval and release of documents of prospective investors.

The system proposed the issuance of an Alien Employment Permit (AEP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as a certification of the non-availability of such technical skills from Filipino workers. It also proposed the issuance of common Subic-Clark Visas from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

All of these work permits and visas are valid within and outside Subic and Clark, provided that the permit or visa holder does not engage in any gainful employment outside the Freeport Zones. The proposed harmonized system shall be implemented thru the issuance of a Joint Memorandum Order from the SCAD Council, SBMA, CDC, CIAC, BI, and DOLE.

PROPOSED SPECIAL WORK PERMITS AND VISAS FOR INVESTORS AND DEPENDENTS

• Special Work Permit (valid for a maximum of 6 months)
• Provisional Permit to Work (valid for a maximum of 1 month)
• Subic-Clark Working Visa (valid for 2 years and subject to renewal)
• Subic-Clark Investor’s Visa (indefinite validity)
• Special Visa for Employment Generation (indefinite validity)
• Dependent’s Visa (co-terminus with its principal)