People visit the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach in Manila, the Philippines, Oct. 21, 2021.(File photo: Xinhua)

The Philippines will resume its e-visa program for Chinese citizens starting in November, the Embassy of the Philippines in China announced on Wednesday. The embassy stated that Chinese citizens traveling to the Philippines for tourism or business purposes, whose trips do not exceed 14 days and do not require an extension, can apply for an e-visa. E-visa holders must enter the country via Manila International Airport or Mactan-Cebu International Airport. 

The embassy emphasized that this move is an important measure for the Philippines to continuously strengthen people-to-people exchanges with China and to promote trade and tourism cooperation, according to media report.

While in late August, considering that the social security situation in the Philippines has been deteriorating in recent times, with a notable increase in criminal activities targeting Chinese citizens, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, along with the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the Philippines, reminded fellow Chinese nationals to closely monitor the local security situation, enhance their safety awareness, strengthen self-protection measures, avoid areas with security concerns, and ensure the safety of both individuals and property. 

According to the ministry, embassy and consulates, Chinese citizens planning to travel to the Philippines are advised to conduct thorough security risk assessments and carefully plan their itineraries. In case of emergencies, the Chinese authorities advised Chinese citizens to report to local police promptly and contact the embassy and consulates in the Philippines for assistance.

Global Times