The Manila Times

Guam, CNMI governors push visa-free travel for Filipinos

SAIPAN, Northern Marianas — Guam Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero and CNMI Gov. David Apatang urged the US government to add the Philippines to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, saying the move would strengthen ties with a key Indo-Pacific ally while boosting tourism and economic activity in the two island jurisdictions. In a May 21, 2026 letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the governors requested favorable consideration of including the Philippines among countries eligible for visa-free travel to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Apatang separately submitted a request under federal law seeking the Philippines' inclusion in the program. The governors said the proposal would advance several US strategic and regional objectives while maintaining existing immigration and border security safeguards. "Including the Philippines reinforces the United States' longstanding partnership with a key treaty ally," the governors wrote. They said stronger people-to-people ties, commercial engagement and regional connectivity would further support US economic, diplomatic and national security interests in the Indo-Pacific. They argued that adding the Philippines to the program would improve regional mobility by increasing passenger demand and encouraging additional air service between the Philippines, Guam and the CNMI. The governors noted that both island jurisdictions face unique geographic and transportation challenges because of their isolation in the Western Pacific. The governors further said the proposal would help diversify visitor markets and strengthen economic stability in both territories. "Expanding the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to include the Philippines would help diversify visitor markets, support economic stability, and strengthen broader commercial activity in both Guam and the CNMI," they said. The governors said the Philippines already has extensive lawful travel, educational, family and commercial ties with Guam and the CNMI, providing what they described as an established foundation for responsible and manageable travel flows. Any expansion would continue to operate within the existing framework of traveler vetting, information-sharing, pre-travel authorization requirements and federal oversight, they said, as they expressed support for additional safeguards, including measures modeled after the Electronic Visa System for Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP, if federal officials deem them necessary. The governors stressed that their request would not affect broader US visa requirements for travel to the mainland United States. The proposal could also complement efforts to improve air connectivity between the Philippines and the Marianas. Philippine Airlines is expected to resume Manila-Saipan flights in June after storm-related disruptions while continuing its long-established Manila-Guam service. "The requested action is limited exclusively to travel within Guam and the CNMI under the existing statutory structure of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and would not alter broader United States visa policy applicable to the continental United States," they wrote. Calling the proposal a "measured, responsible, and strategically aligned administrative action," Leon Guerrero and Apatang said it would be consistent with Congress' original intent in creating a region-specific waiver program tailored to the unique needs of Guam and the CNMI. They also said they would welcome consideration of a phased or pilot implementation subject to periodic federal review and performance evaluation. MARK RABAGO