The e-Travel system was launched yesterday, December 5, with Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco saying that the said platform would allow faster and easier processing for arriving passengers.
An initiative of a sub-technical working group of the Inter-Agency Task Force chaired by the BI, the launch was joined by partner-agencies that include the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“We are happy and proud to be part of this achievement. This is a product of working together with different government agencies, with the aim of improving our services for the public,” said Tansingco. “The system will consolidate all data collection processes at the ports. Instead of having to fill out several forms for different agencies, all will be consolidated into one platform to streamline entry procedures,” Tansingco said.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval explained that the use of the platform will replace the arrival cards, which were previously submitted upon arrival to the BI.
Effective December 5, Sandoval said the BI will no longer require the submission of the paper-based arrival cards for arriving passengers. Information from the platform will also replace the BOQ’s One Health Pass, and the BOC’s arrival form. Registration on the eTravel is free.
Tansingco sees that the project is a major achievement to ensure interoperable systems among government agencies.
