Papua New Guinea (PNG) is planning to offer its visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility for Philippine passport holders, its foreign minister announced Thursday.

During his official visit to Manila, PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko confirmed that Manila and Port Moresby are negotiating on a memorandum of understanding that would reciprocate the Philippines’ visa-free scheme for PNG nationals.

“We have already cleared that with the State Department in our government, and we look forward to that reciprocation with the Philippines so Filipinos can come to PNG and enjoy our wonderful country and feel much welcome,” he said in a press conference at the Makati Diamond Residences.

PNG’s VOA is only available to the nationals of Japan, Israel, Indonesia, China, and member states of the Melanesian Spearhead Group “on reciprocal basis”.

At present, Filipinos traveling to PNG for tourism and business must secure an e-Visa.

The proposed visa waiver arrangement is among the subjects being discussed in the ongoing inaugural Philippines-PNG policy consultations in Manila.

In the same presser, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Manila seeks to further increase tourism exchanges and the number of flights between PNG and the Philippines.

“While approximately 3,000 kilometers apart, our two proud maritime democracies share common values and realities that serve as impetus for closer and more productive bilateral engagement,” he said.

“The importance we place on family, the diversity of our peoples and languages, our geographic configuration, the richness of our biodiversity, and the abundance of natural resources are all significant commonalities in charting a steady and fruitful course to our bilateral ties,” he added. (PNA)