Guam appoints czar for H2 and visa waiver programs for PH

Former governor Carl Gutierrez said he also wants to increase tourism from the Philippines. INQUIRER FILE

AGANA, Guam – Guam’s governor officially assigned former governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez to take charge of the territory’s H2 and visa waiver programs for the Philippines.

In an executive order, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero tasked Gutierrez with researching and developing a strategy to help in the inclusion of the Philippines as an eligible country for the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Program and as a member country of the Guam-CNMI Waiver Program.

The executive order authorizes Gutierrez to work with participating governments and to ensure alignment and support for any request to the U.S. Secretary of State and US Secretary of Homeland Security on the Philippine H2 and visa waiver programs, according to a Pacific News Center report.

Gutierrez is also authorized to consult with outside experts and retain the services of experts and advisors or consultants.

Gutierrez told the Patti Arroyo show on NewsTalk K57 that he also wants to work toward increasing tourism from the Philippines. Filipinos spend more than anyone else when they are on Guam because more of them are well-off, with disposable income to spend, he said.

He said many Filipinos want to shop on Guam because they enjoy the duty-free shopping and the U.S. merchandise that are available.