FILIPINOS are banned from entering Kuwait except those with “Iqama” or residence permit beginning May 10, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said the ban covers Filipinos, including those with visas, who are entering Kuwait for the first time.

“According to our Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, all those new entry visas in Kuwait from the Philippines are not allowed to enter pero those na may residence visa or what you call Iqama are allowed naman to enter (but those with residence visa or what you call Iqama are allowed to enter),” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

“The way it is written sa Kuwait Civil Aviation, it says all visas, so it may be tourist, it may be student, it may be business basta bagong entry hindi papayagang pumasok pero ‘yong mga dati nang nandoon, which means mayroon silang residence ID card puwede silang pumasok.

He said Manila is committed to resolving issues with other countries “in an amicable manner.”

“In the case of Kuwait, hindi natin maikakaila that there are very, very friendly relations plus ‘yong very strong people-to-people links natin,” he said.

“We’re confident that we will be able to find a mutually satisfactory solution to whatever issues we feel need to be discussed with Kuwait.”

Cortes said the DFA will discuss the coverage of the ban when official talks start with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

“Our ambassador there is liaising and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make sure that nothing is lost in translation,” he said. “One, anong klaseng ban nga ba ito, anong klaseng cessation of visa ba ito? Number two, anong limits nito, sino sino ba ang sakop nito? Number three, bakit? So, all that will be threshed out with our discussion with the MOFA.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers issued a statement on Kuwait government’s decision to suspend the issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos.

“We shall continue to pursue the track of labor diplomacy in ensuring the welfare and safety of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), while we await more details as to the rationale and issues surrounding the action of the Kuwait government.

“We are working closely with the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait (PE-Kuwait) in a unified, whole-of-government approach to the situation,” the DMW said.

“We are also coordinating with our Philippine recruitment agencies, Filipino communities and leaders, and other stakeholders on how to address this development in the best interest of all concerned,” it added.

The DMW stands ready to assist the OFWs affected by the action of the Kuwait government.

“We urge our affected Kuwait-bound OFWs to connect with us directly through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) hotlines at 09567821309 and 09603532532 or to email [email protected] so we may assist them said the department.

At least 290,000 Filipinos live and work in Kuwait. With Jun I. Legaspi