Extension of Balikbayan Program Benefits

The extension is premised on the Balikbayan program having already enabled about 250,000 overseas Filipinos and their families to visit the homeland.
The extension is justified by circumstances preventing many overseas Filipinos from using the program, including a lack of airline seats for the Christmas season.
The extension responds to continuing clamor from overseas Filipino groups and Philippine diplomatic offices to extend the Balikbayan program.
The program extension is expressly made to allow more overseas Filipinos to take advantage of Balikbayan benefits.

The Balikbayan program benefits are extended to overseas Filipinos who seek to come home during the extended period from March 1, 1977 to February 28, 1978.
The extension is nationwide in application as it is issued as a directive to all concerned.
The benefits are tied to the Balikbayan program period beginning March 1, 1977.

The extended Balikbayan period provides the same incentives and benefits previously granted under Letter of Instructions No. 210.
The governing incentives and benefits for March 1, 1977 to February 28, 1978 are those established by Letter of Instructions No. 210, issued on August 20, 1974.
The extension expressly maintains continuity of benefits rather than introducing new incentive categories.

Letter of Instructions No. 210 issued on August 20, 1974 is the governing reference for the incentives and benefits that continue to apply.
Letter of Instructions No. 493 functions as an extension of the Balikbayan program period covered by Letter of Instructions No. 210.
The incentives and benefits continue to operate by reference to Letter of Instructions No. 210 for the extended dates.

The issuance directs an extension of Balikbayan benefits for a specific period (March 1, 1977 to February 28, 1978).
The directive preserves the incentive structure under Letter of Instructions No. 210 for the extended period from March 1, 1977 to February 28, 1978.
No separate penalties, administrative consequences, or enforcement mechanisms are specified in Letter of Instructions No. 493.