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| eTravel is still required, but its QR code will no longer be checked by customs inspetors |
A blogger’s misunderstanding of a TV news report has confused many overseas Filipino workers and other travelers as to whether eTravel, which records the information of individuals entering and leaving the Philippines, is no longer required.
For the record, eTravel is still required of every
traveler entering the Philippines. But only Philippine passport holders must
register again with eTravel when they leave the country, and not foreign passport
holders.
The only change announced by the Bureau of Customs
on Wednesday is that travelers who have cleared immigration and are going
through the customs inspection area on exit are no longer required to show the QR code
from their eTravel registration before being allowed to get out of the airport.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Previously, this practice often resulted in long
queues as travelers would scramble to find the QR code on their phones or hard
copy while pushing heavy luggage carts, just so they could get out.
In the video shared by a blogger named Farhar
Ebrahas and shared by many others including a Filipina named Ligaya,” there is
a heading that says “Suwerte na nang
uuwi, wala ng etravel” Beside it is a photo of the airport, over which a
video recorded interview with a spokesman for Customs is played.
But in that video (link is here, https://youtu.be/D-qunUeP0Mk)
the Customs spokesman is heard saying: “Pinatanggal
na po natin ang pagpe prisinta ng QR code kasi naman po nasa immigration na po
ang impormasyon tungkol sa eTravel.”
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
(We no longer require the QR code to be presented
because the information about eTravel is already with immigration).
What he said, clearly, is that it is the act of
presenting the QR code to customs inspectors before exiting the airport that
was removed, and not the eTravel itself.
His statement that all the information is already in
the eTravel that immigration had seen, negates the story that the exit document
is no longer required.
But what appeared to have sparked the confusion was
when the interviewer responded with: “Ah,
hindi na po ba kailangan? Kahapon pinakita ko pa.” (Oh, so it’s no longer
required? Yesterday I still had to present it).
The video was cut at this point, maybe even deliberately,
so as to sow confusion – or draw more engagements.
The e-Travel which integrates the traveler’s
personal information with the customs and baggage declaration, can be filled
out online through https://etravel.gov.ph/
within 72 hours prior to one’s scheduled time of arrival in, or departure from,
the Philippines.
All passengers arriving in the Philippines, whatever
the nationality, must register on the E-Travel portal. But only departing
passengers holding Philippine passports are required to again register to be
able to fly out of the country.
