Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on August 4, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

KAZAN, Russia — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he “cannot find any serious objections to” the Philippines and Russia having a visa-free agreement in the future after ending his two-day visit here on Thursday.The administration has “very strong” plans to support more connectivity between the Philippines and Eurasia’s largest economy, Marcos said in a press conference following the conclusion of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.“If it&#x27;s something that we feel will be of advantage to both Russia and the Philippines, I don&#x27;t see why not,” he said.“We very much would like to increase our tourist trade so that&#x27;s something that down the road maybe we can look at… I cannot find any serious objections to it.”Some 2.1 million Russian tourists visited Southeast Asia in the first three quarters of 2025, but Philippine Ambassador Igor Bailen said that most of these travelers went to beaches in Indonesia and Thailand.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/6/18/ph-welcomes-more-than-2-9-million-tourists-from-january-to-mid-june-1506">PH welcomes more than 2.9 million tourists from January to mid-June </a></div>A Russian airline is waiting for authorization from the Philippines to launch more direct flights to Cebu and Manila, the ambassador said in a separate interview.“That&#x27;s why it&#x27;s so important to us that, number one, there is already an agreement for the flight between Irkutsk and Kalibo, Aklan so that&#x27;s a good start,” Marcos said. “As I understand it, Cebu Pacific is already looking at further flights [to Russia],” he added.The president underscored that the Philippines is “not only talking about tourism” in having more Russians visit the country.“Of course, it&#x27;s an important part and we would like many more to — both ways for more Filipinos to go to see Russia, for more Russians to come and visit the Philippines, but also any kind of travel, any kind of engagement at any level,” he said. “These are all elements that will help those – the growth of our trade,” he added.The government will have to “continue to find ways” to push for the “policy of developing regional airports so that our visitors — the visitors that come to the Philippines need not go through Manila necessarily, unless they really want to go to Manila,” Marcos said.“If they want to go to somewhere else, then we will start to see these regional airports becoming available as stops so that the tourists especially can go directly to their final destination,” he explained.The Marcos administration has signed a deal privatizing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to expand the capacity of the Philippines’ main gateway.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/tourism-secretary-says-love-the-philippines-slogan-to-stay-with-tweaks-0118">Tourism secretary says &#x27;Love the Philippines&#x27; slogan to stay — with tweaks </a></div>The government is also looking at building a new airport in Bulacan — just a few hours away from the capital region — to further decongest the Philippines’ main airport that was dubbed as among the world’s worst in previous years.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he “cannot find any serious objections to” the Philippines and Russia having a visa-free agreement in the future after ending his two-day visit here on Thursday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he “cannot find any serious objections to” the Philippines and Russia having a visa-free agreement in the future after ending his two-day visit here on Thursday.

Marcos sees ‘no serious objections’ to PH-Russia visa-free deal in the future

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Marcos sees ‘no serious objections’ to PH-Russia visa-free deal in the future

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 20, 2026 09:04 AM PHT

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