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The Philippines: Ideal place to retire
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Linda Valencia
Date: 2002-07-31
 
Who among us, especially the old folks don’t know the lyrics of the song “The Green Leaves of Summer” that has been used in the film “The Alamo.”







The soundtrack spoke of a yearning that is universal to all – to come home to, or to discover a second home when we reach the golden age of retirement.





When we speak of summer and retirement, one can only think of the Philippines – the “tropical paradise” of smiling people, perpetual summers and dreamy vacation spots.





The Philippines holds a wealth of wonders waiting to be discovered not only by foreign tourists and retirees but also of Filipinos. Foreign tourists who have sampled the hospitality of Filipinos and the many charms of the archipelagic state teeming with magnificent beaches and hideaways, would naturally want to stay here for good.





It is for these reasons that foreign nationals, balikbayans and expatriate workers would do well to consider the Philippines as the country where they would spend savoring the fruits of their hard toil.





The Philippines is liberally endowed with natural wonders and physical attributes that make it attractive to foreign retirees, including former Filipino nationals who would want to come home to their land of birth after their mark in other countries.





And foreigners who do retire here will be amply rewarded as they encounter little difficulty in accommodating themselves to a friendly and predominantly English-speaking population.





For balikbayans, there’s nothing like reminiscing about the past and renewing old acquaintances and seeing once more the “green leaves” of summer at home.





With the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo determinedly pushing for the growth of the tourism sector, it comes but natural to revitalize the concept of the Philippines as the ideal retirement setting for foreign nationals and former Filipinos who have acquired other citizenships.





Unknown to many, as early as 1985, with the creation of the Philippine Leisure and Retirement Authority (PLRA), the government had acknowledged the potential of this program.





Now, after 16 years of inactivity, the time has come for the PLRA to put flesh and blood to the concept of making the country the perfect place to retire to.





The PLRA has its main objective, the generation of substantial foreign exchange from retiring foreigners and expatriate Filipinos. The ultimate goal is to derive mutual benefits for the retirees and the host country by affording the former an unparalleled retirement experience, and the latter the money to finance its social and economic development agenda.





In going about promoting the Philippines not only as a tourist haven but also as a perfect retirement place, the PLRA would be tapping the services of Philippine embassies worldwide in the distribution of brochures and flyers, and in the placement of materials on publications that cater to expatriate Filipinos, balikbayans and overseas Filipino workers.





The PLRA would also be pushing for the granting of special privileges for retirees like the issuance of Investor and Retiree’s Resident Visa (IR2), Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) that allow multipleentry visa privilege and the extended stay, if not permanent stay, in the country. The SRRV visa will be issued in just five working days.





Other benefits that could be derived include: exemption from customs duties and taxes for the importation of personal effects, appliances and household furniture worth US$7,000.00; exemption from exit clearance and re-entry permits; conversion of the required time deposit to active investments, including the purchase of condominium units and proprietary gold membership shares; pension and amenities remitted to the Philippines are tax-free and others.





The many virtues of the country would be played up because people behind the PLRA believe that the country speaks for itself, and that it’s just a matter of informing would-be retirees of what’s awaiting them if they choose to stay here.





A stay in the Philippines especially for those who came from temperate countries could be likened to relaxing in paradise of perpetual summer. (PNA)







 

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