Dear Fellow Pisay alumni,

I would like to share my experience in getting my travel clearance from the Bureau of Immigration (Department of Justice) to fulfill my duties and responsibilities in ADB. I was supposed to leave Monday (March 5) but when I found out about the travel ban for Pisay graduates, I decided to leave Wednesday (March 7). To be sure, I requested help from a contact in Immigration and he verified that my name was in fact in the watch list. It was embarrassing because only criminals are in the watch list. His first
reaction was did you violate any laws? Do you have an NBI clearance? By the way, please do not be surprised if Immigration officials will tell you that you have to serve the country because the Government paid for your schooling, and it is right you have a travel ban since we have the same arrangements with DOST scholars. : )

Below is the email from the PSHS National Alumni Association stating that the PSHS system BOT has NOT ENDORSED the travel ban and apparently it is a campus decision and only PSHS-Southern Mindanao Campus (SMC) has implemented it. I heard that through the efforts of Batch 1995 and the signature campaign, the ban has been temporarily lifted for three months. (Batch 1995- thanks so much for your initiative; very much appreciated) .

My intention is to inform all of you the steps you have to take in getting the clearance. I will also give the names of the Immigration officials and make this detailed. I was very lucky they processed it rush (half a day instead of 15-20 days) because I was due to leave the next day and I am very grateful to the civil servants who went out of their way to help me and worked beyond office hours to ensure I get the
necessary documentation. On the aside, this experience has brought back my faith in the Government, despite the lousy system and the dilapidated facilities (see for yourself the pathetic state of the buildings is reflective of the corrupt and ineffective system….), there are civil servants who serve (note that I did not pay a single centavo to have my papers rushed). Also, Ate Bing Lope, our Registrar was so helpful in ensuring I get the endorsement letter signed by Dr. Fundador in less than 24 hours. She even gave me her mobile number so I can “constantly harass” her with my
follow ups. I must admit, I was concerned because Monday I wrote apology letters to people I had to meet in my business trip. I was not keen in sending another
batch of apology letters if I could not leave Wednesday. Moreover, I did not want to suffer the humiliation from my boss at ADB who made it clear, it is my responsibility to get the clearance (and who was equally surprised I had a travel ban when I have
been traveling for the last nine years and my last trip was two weeks ago!).

So here goes (for Manila based alumni):

1. A request letter needs to be submitted to Dr. Fundador together with your Transcript of Records (original copy) and authenticated Diploma. If it is an urgent request, I strongly suggest you contact Ate Bing Lope so she can facilitate for you. They require
original copies. For rush requests, you can send the letter, TOR and diploma by fax but need to send the original copies to Pisay Mindanao.

2. PSHS-SMC will send by fax (or mail) the letter. Please take note that the letter is only an ENDORSEMENT and is not a travel clearance. Also, only Dr. Fundador can lift the travel ban because she requested and submitted our names in the watch list.
Although it is not required, I suggest you bring your passport and ticket if your request is urgent.

Excerpts of the letter from Dr. Fundador will include the following: (i) that she has no objection to your travel; (ii) the processing will take XX days (in my case it stated urgently); (iii) you have complied with the requirements set by PSHS-SMC thus discharging you of any obligation; and (iv) that she requests your name will be removed from the immigration watch list effective immediately. The letter will be addressed to Commissioner Alipio Fernandez.

3. Go to the Bureau of Immigration (BID) Office in Intramuros, Magallanes Drive. It is near Manila Cathedral (For those who will commute, you can take the LRT and go down UN Avenue and take a cab to Intramuros). When you get there, they will ask you
to leave your ID at the reception table and please mention you will see Ms. Thelma Guiritan of the Office of Commissioner Alipio. Her office is in the second
floor, turn right and it is first door at the left side.

4. Please show her the letter from Dr. Fundador and tell her you are one of the PSHS-SMC scholars who have a travel ban. They require an original copy of the
letter. For urgent requests, use your persuasive skills to justify why it is a faxed copy. She will direct you to go to the first floor where you need to get a verification that you are in the watch list.

They will give you a computer generated internal BID-DOJ sheet that states you are in the watch list and the case number (yes, we have a reference number in the system).

5. Attach the sheet to your letter from Dr. Fundador and go back to Ate Thelma. She will attach a form which she will sign and request another Immigration official to sign. Proceed to Room 401 (Window) to obtain a legal clearance. Two legal officers will
review your papers and then the Chief of legal office will issue an ORDER that the ban has been lifted to be signed by Commissioner Alipio. The legal office will counter sign it (two signatories) and send it back to the office of Ate Thelma who in turn will request Commissioner Alipio to sign. Then payment will have to be made. Please prepare Php 1,010.00. Excerpts of the order contains the following:

(i) pursuant to the letter from Dr. Fundador requesting for the lifting of your name from the Bureau’s Watch List on the ground that you have complied with the requirements set by PSHS-SMC thus discharging you of any obligation;

(ii) the Watch List order is considered cancelled and revoked as far as you are concerned; and (iii) the copy of the order is furnished to relevant offices for
their information and appropriate action.

6. In my case, the Commissioner was out of the office, and I was told to go back the next day. Again, my persuasion skills (with charms!, yes it does work so refer to everyone as Ate and Kuya to gain sympathy -he he he) was useful. I managed to convince them to request the OIC to sign. I had to be the one to take my papers to Assistant Commissioner Kabo Chan in another building (Fourth Floor of BF Homes Building-
brown structure) and looked for Ate Malou (Assistant). My papers were reviewed and logged and I got the signed order.

7. I went back to the office of Ate Thelma and the order was passed on to Mr. Michael Palo who affixed the DOJ-BID seal, faxed the ORDER to relevant officials of Immigration, Airport Authorities, Computer Unit (to delete your name from the system)
Foreign Affairs and Consular Affairs. He then gave me a copy with the seal. I need to use it every time I travel to be sure.

8. I went to the airport yesterday and Immigration officials asked for the clearance. I was told that my name will be removed from the system.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need additional information or have some questions/ clarifications.

Best,
Pam