IN BRIEF

Binay eyes stringent rules for visa seekers

SENATOR Nancy Binay on Tuesday urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to make personal appearance of visa applicants at consular offices as a non-negotiable requirement for some categories applying for e-visas.

“Every visa decision has a national security dimension,” said Binay, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Tourism.

She said certain parameters on security should be in place, and apply a multi-layered safety plug plus a face-toface interview to a narrow category of travelers.

She noted vetting on TOC-related grounds, and extensive security screening should be the prime considerations in approving visa applications.

“As a matter of national interest, I share the DFA’s position torequire face-toface interviews with tourist visa applicants whose profiles fall in marked categories,” Binay said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

House probe sought on July 27 lake mishap

HOUSE Deputy Minority leader and ACT