Malacañang said that filling out the Electronic Arrival Card (eArrival Card) will no longer be mandatory as a prerequisite to boarding to promote the ease of travel in the country.

Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said this after the Department of Health (DOH) announced that inbound travelers will be required to secure an eArrival Card within 72 hours before their flight to the Philippines starting November 1.

In a press briefing, Garafil said there would be lanes at the country's gateways for those complying with the government requirement.

"Hindi na ito mandatory (This is no longer mandatory); lanes will be set up in airports for this system," she said.

The Marcos administration will implement the eArrival Card scan-and-go system in the country's airports to ensure easy travel for incoming travelers while protecting the public from Covid-19.

During a press briefing, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the decision to scrap a completed eArrival Card as a prerequisite to boarding was approved during the Cabinet meeting.

It means travelers can fill out the eArrival Card at their convenience – prior to departure or upon arrival.

According to Frasco, the DOH will set up special lanes in coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine for those who have not had the opportunity to fill out the e-Arrival Card.

She likewise expressed optimism that lifting all the restrictions by the Marcos administration would benefit millions of Filipinos with the reinvigoration of the tourism industry.

"The overarching direction of the Marcos administration is to allow our country to convey an openness and a readiness to the world to receive tourists and investments so that we would give our fellow Filipinos an opportunity to regain all the livelihood and losses that were incurred during the pandemic," Frasco said.