BI replacing departure cards with eTravel scheme
By Jun Ramirez and Jun Ramirez
Starting May 1, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said departing passengers will no longer be required to fill out departure cards amid the gradual digitalization shift of the bureau.
Instead, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said departing passengers will be asked to log into the eTravel system.
"This will simplify and make it more convenient to process documents for departing passengers," said Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
The eTravel website can be accessed at eTravel.gov.ph. free of charge.
The BI chief said the electronic system will lessen the requirements for passengers leaving the country.
He said the new scheme was pilot-tested last December to harmonize and consolidate data collection processes and will later be expanded to cover arriving passengers.
Passengers may log in to the platform from three to 72 hours before their scheduled flight.
The system was developed by a task force chaired by the BI with members from various government offices like the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Tourism, the Bureau of Quarantine, the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Justice.