With all the news about recession and the world economy heading south for the winter, it seems that doing business in the Philippines is not a good idea right now.

But here’s some good news that provides a much-needed boost to those who are thinking of setting up shop in the country: on Nov. 17, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued the Executive Order 758, which creates the provision for a Special Visa for Employment Generation or the SVEG.

Unlike the standard visa, the SVEG is issued to qualified non-immigrant foreigners who will employ 10 Filipinos or more in a sustainable enterprise, trade or industry in the Philippines.

There are many perks of an SVEG holder, but the main clincher of having an SVEG is that it gives the right to multiple entry privileges in the Philippines without prior departure in the country.

This allows the holder to stay in the Philippines as long as he or she wants. In addition, the privileges of the SVEG are extended not only to the foreigner-applicant, but also to his or her spouse and their dependent children who are under 18 years of age.

As stipulated in the Order, the requirements for holding an SVEG are that the holder shall engage in a viable and sustainable commercial enterprise/investment in the Philippines, perform managerial acts, and has the power to employ and dismiss employees.

The foreigner must also have a bona fide intention to stay in the country for an indefinite period of time, and that he or she is not a threat to the country’s security in any way possible.

And of course, the holder of the SVEG must employ at least 10 Filipinos under Philippine labor laws and other applicable special laws. These requirements are to be constantly satisfied by the foreigner-holder of the visa, and once any of the requirements are violated the SVEG will be immediately revoked.

Although it is mandated by strict regulations, application for an SVEG is relatively easy.

First, the applicant has to pay for a regulatory fee, after which the Commissioner of Immigration shall receive and resolve the applications within 2 weeks upon date of filing.

And once the application has been given a favorable rating, the Commissioner of Immigration will then issue a Notice of Approval directing the applicant to report for registration and documentation at the Bureau if Immigration. Afterwards, an Alien Certificate of Registration or ACR I-Card will then be issued to the applicant upon payment of the remaining fees.

This is definitely good news not only to entrepreneurs who want to invest in the Philippines, but to Filipinos as well.

According to a latest statistic done by the Philippine National Statistics Office, at least 2.9 million Filipinos are currently out of work, so the SVEG might give some of them much-needed jobs, which in turn lessen the Philippines’ heavy reliance on overseas remittances. So if you are thinking of putting up a business in the Philippines, now might be a good time to start.

I was in Philippines last December 2006. During my 4 weeks vacation, I decided to join Fitness First Philippines Inc.

I did explain to the person who sign me in that I am just using their facility for a month. He gave me the papers with very fine prints or they called it a “contract” to sign.

Before leaving coming back here (USA), I did told them that my stay in the Philippines is over and will not be using their facility anymore. They told me to put my account on hold with minimal monthly charges. But as the time goes, they resume to debit the full amount to my credit card.

When I am already here, they start getting money to my credit card in a monthly basis. They told me that I am on contract for One year and need to pay the whole year contract. You can see here how this Fitness First Philippines Inc.- operates.

Before hand, I already informed the person who opened my account to them that I will be there for couple of weeks. He knew that I will be using their facility for a month but here now- they want to collect a year of payment to my credit card.

People, please be careful of this company. They are very tricky. They even wrote me:

 Dear Richard, Re: Overdue amount 4,380.00 pesos. Our record shows that the above amount remains unpaid. Based on the membership Agreement you signed with us, you are well within the minimum commitment period and you remain under legal obligation to pay your monthly dues. We therefore ask you again to please settle the above amount in full on or before 17th August 2007.

You are welcome to make payment and discuss your membership concern at any Fitness First Club nearest you. Our front office team will be glad to receive your payment and assist you anytime during club operating hours. In the event that you are unable to settle on the said date, we will endorse your account to a collection agent and a credit rating agency for blacklisting by 22nd of August, 2007. we wish to inform you that the blacklisting would only be lifted by the credit rating agency once you have fully settled your account with us. we also reserve the right to take legal actions against you to enforce collection.

Regretfully, in the event of a legal suit, we will have to charge you attorney’s fee and cost of suit. It is therefore in your best interest to pay the overdue amount without further delay and to formally discuss your membership concerns with our Front House Team. Please disregard this reminder and accept our appreciation if you have already settled the outstanding amount. Thank you very much.

Faithfully Yours,

Fitness First Phillipines Inc.

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This is only a small amount of money but the whole point here is not about the money. It is how tricky, deceitful they operate their business.

They even have the guts to mention about legal matters here.

They were able to let me sign up with deceiving and misleading information. First and foremost they knew that I will be there for only a month but they still let me sign a paper contrary to what my intention.

To all Filipinos, I am not the only one victimized by this Fitness First Philippines Inc. but lot more others especially Filipinos who were on vacation only.

I will continue to write pertinent government agencies that need to look on this kind of deceitful business practices.

They mislead me to sign their contract. Nobody told me about their one year contract policy. Why do I need to pay for the months that I didn’t used in their facility?