Foreign retirees choose Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE — Europeans remain at the top of the list of foreigners that stay in the city as retirees according to the data of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).

According to Mervin Mangubat, division chief of the PRA in the city, there are about 447 registered foreigners who reside in Dumaguete who availed of the Special Resident Retirees’ Visa (SRRV).

The PRA has acknowledged Dumaguete as the best place in the country for retirement. The city scored 87.48 points based on the criteria set by some international organizations such as the United Nations, World Health Organization and International Living.

With the development, city mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo entered into a memorandum of agreement with the PRA to reinforce the position of the city as a retiree-friendly area. The PRA was represented by its chief executive officer Bienvenido Chy.

In the new pact, there will be a PRA help desk established inside city hall. The help desk will cater to the needs of the retirees, clients and other stakeholders.

At the same time, some of the business establishments will be accredited as it is expected that more retirees will be coming into the city to spend the rest of their lives.

“Dumaguete City is the first LGU in the country with whom we have established this significant partnership, the importance of establishing the help desk,” Chy said.