Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) (right) asks USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah why land grabbing is happening to the Philippines, which receives a lot of funding for livelihood projects and other economic opportunities from the US. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Embassy in Washington on Wednesday dispelled online news reports that the United States has announced a no-visa policy for Filipinos.
In a statement, the embassy said it has been “in touch with the US Department of State, which has denied making such an announcement.”
“There is no truth to what appears to be an online news report that the U.S. has announced a no-visa policy,” the embassy said.
“The Embassy reminds the public that the online article being circulated in social media is a satirical piece that should not be taken seriously,” it added.
Quoting the U.S. State Department, the article, which is being circulating in social media, says the no-visa policy will take effect “immediately.”
The new policy, the report said, “comes on the heels of a recent survey showing that an overwhelming majority of Filipinos have a favorable view of the United States.”
“The Philippines ranked first in a global survey on the image of the United States worldwide, beating even the U.S. itself when it comes to a favorable view on the American people,” the report said.
It claimed that the U.S. “made this monumental decision as a way to reward the Filipinos for making the U.S. really look good in the survey. (MNS)