MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 24, August 27, 2024 ]
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE USE OF THE ELECTRONIC TRAVEL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL INBOUND AND OUTBOUND PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS
WHEREAS, Section 12, Article XIV of the Constitution provides that the State shall regulate the transfer and promote the adaptation of technology from all sources for national benefit;
WHEREAS, under Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act of 2012," the State recognizes the vital role of information and communications technology in nation-building and its inherent obligation to ensure that personal information in information and communications systems in the government and in the private sector are secured and protected;
WHEREAS, Section 6 of RA No. 10844 or the "Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Act of 2015" empowers the DICT to implement national policies, plans, programs, and guidelines that will promote the development and use of information and communications technology;
WHEREAS, Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book IV of Executive Order (EO) No. 292 or the "Administrative Code of 1987" mandates the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to administer and enforce immigration, citizenship, and alien admission and registration laws in accordance with the provisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the "Immigration Act of 1940," as amended;
WHEREAS, Section 3 of RA No. 9271 or the "Quarantine Act of 2004" vests the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) with authority to examine entry and exit of incoming and outgoing passengers and crew members to ensure security against introduction and spread of infectious and emerging diseases, and public health emergencies of international concern;
WHEREAS, Section 437 of RA No. 10863 or the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act" requires the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to provide simplified customs clearance procedures for passengers and baggage processing, in accordance with international agreements, and customs best practices;
WHEREAS, Section 6 of RA No. 9563 or the "Tourism Act of 2009," as amended by RA No. 11262, authorizes the Department of Tourism (DOT) to undertake research studies and surveys to analyze the country's travel conditions and trends relating to tourism;
WHEREAS, Section 5 of RA No. 11641 or the "Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act" mandates the DMW to promote, administer, and undertake systems that will regulate, manage, and monitor overseas employment of Filipino workers;
WHEREAS, on 5 December 2022, the DICT, BI, DOT, BOQ, and BOC launched a unified and integrated digital data collection platform known as the Electronic Travel Information (eTravel) System to streamline various travel declaration procedures for international inbound passengers;
WHEREAS, on 15 April 2023, the abovementioned agencies expanded the eTravel System to cover all international inbound and outbound passengers and crew members arriving to and departing from the Philippines;
WHEREAS, there is a need to institutionalize the use of eTravel System as the government's one-stop electronic travel declaration system for all international inbound and outbound passengers and crew members, for the purpose of ensuring efficiency in the conduct of border control, health surveillance, tourism statistics analysis, and other travel related procedures;
WHEREAS, under Section 2 of RA No.ℒαwρhi৷ 9485 or the "Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007," as amended by RA No. 11032 or the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018," the State shall take appropriate measures to promote transparency in each agency with regard to the manner of transacting with the public, which shall encompass initiating and maintaining a program for the adoption of simplified procedures that will reduce red tape and expedite business and non-business related transactions in govenrment; and
WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices, and the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and exiting laws, do hereby order:
Section 1. Institutionalization of eTravel System. The eTravel System is hereby institutionalized as the government's one-stop electronic travel declaration system for all international inbound and outbound passengers and crew members. It shall be used by the government to efficiently conduct border control, health surveillance, tourism statistics analysis, and other travel related procedures.
Section 2. Technical Working Group. A Technical Working Group (TWG) on eTravel System is hereby created to study and, as may be necessary, adopt measures that will further improve the eTravel System, including its usage, management, and operation, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
The TWG shall be composed of DICT as Chairperson, BI as Co-Chairperson, and the following as Members: (a) DOT; (b) DMW; (c) Department of Transportation (DOTr); (d) BOQ; and (e) BOC.
Section 3. Convergences. All relevant departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities shall provide full support to, and cooperation with the TWG to ensure effective implementation of this Order.
For this purpose, the TWG and all relevant departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities shall ensure compliance with RA No. 10173 in the implementation of this Order, as well the usage, management and operation of the eTravel System.
Section 4. Funding. The Funding requirements for the implementation of this Order shall be charged against current and available appropriations of DICT, BI, DOT, DMW, DOTr, BOQ, and BOC, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules and regulations. Thereafter, the funding requirements necessary for the continued implementation of this Order shall be included in the budget proposals of said agencies, subject to the usual budget preparation process.
Section 5. Separability. If any part or provision of this Order shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. Repeal. All orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 7. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
DONE, in the City of Manila, this 27th day of August, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR.
By the President:
(Sgd.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Executive Secretary
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