SEN. Pia Cayetano has filed a resolution urging the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry into the visa-related issues encountered by Philippine national athletes and their coaches.
Cayetano said Senate Resolution No. 1312 aims to determine why national athletes have a hard time securing visas, which often leads to them missing international tournaments, and find ways to address them.
“These visa issues result in missed local and international training and tournaments, thereby affecting the athletes’ performance and rankings,” Cayetano said in the resolution filed last February 5.
She cited Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, who was prevented from competing in the Doha Leg of the Diamond League a day after setting a new personal season best of 5.80 meters and securing the bronze medal in the Rome Leg of the same League after he encountered visa issues in September 2020.
She said Erin Jasper “Yopaj” Ferrer, a Filipino Dota 2 player, failed to participate in the 2024 PGL Wallachia tournament in Romania due to visa issues.
“The instances mentioned highlight the urgency of addressing these concerns as such barriers significantly limit Filipino athletes’ ability to represent the country and compete on the global stage,” she said.
Cayetano said national athletes and their coaches, like diplomats, represent the country when competing internationally and should be provided with adequate government support that would allow them to focus, free from visa-related stress and uncertainties.
She said there are existing laws such as RA 9064, as amended by RA 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, but there is an urgent need to strengthen and enhance these laws and other relevant policies to provide the athletes with enough assistance, particularly about travel and visa concerns.
“There is a need to examine current procedures of the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), POC (Philippine Olympic Committee), NSAs (National Sports Associations), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in assisting athletes to acquire visas and other necessary travel documents, with the goal of identifying issues and exploring solutions to streamline these processes and prevent delays, ensuring that athletes can focus on their local and international training and competitions with unnecessary hindrances,” she said.
