MANILA — In a move to streamline international travel procedures, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed an administrative order institutionalizing the use of an electronic travel (eTravel) information system for all passengers and crew members entering or leaving the country.
The order, signed on August 27 and published in a local newspaper on Saturday, establishes the eTravel system as the government’s centralized platform for travel declarations. This digital initiative aims to enhance border control, health surveillance, tourism statistics analysis, and other travel-related processes.
“This system represents a significant step forward in modernizing our travel procedures,” said a spokesperson for the presidential palace. “It will not only improve efficiency but also bolster our national security and public health measures.”
The administrative order also creates a technical working group (TWG) to oversee the implementation and further development of the eTravel system. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will chair the group, with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) serving as co-chair.
Other key agencies involved in the TWG include the Departments of Tourism, Migrant Workers, and Transportation, as well as the Bureaus of Quarantine and Customs. These entities are tasked with studying and adopting measures to optimize the system’s usage, management, and operation.
Funding for the initiative will come from the current budgets of the involved agencies, with future allocations to be included in their respective budget proposals.
The eTravel system was initially launched in December 2022 for inbound international passengers and expanded in April 2023 to include outbound travelers and crew members. This latest order cements its role as a cornerstone of Philippine travel procedures.
As global travel continues to recover post-pandemic, the Philippines’ move towards a unified digital platform aligns with international trends in travel management and border security. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for other countries seeking to modernize their travel systems.
The administrative order takes immediate effect upon its publication, marking a new era in the Philippines’ approach to international travel management.
