OFWs reminded to register online before traveling

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are coming home for summer vacation to register online before their scheduled trips.

The DMW issued the reminder with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) set to fully implement the electronic travel or e-travel system starting April 15.

Under the e-travel system, all arriving passengers must register at e-travel.gov.ph not earlier than 72 hours from their scheduled arrival in the country.

Departing passengers must also register not earlier than 72 hours, but not later than three hours, from the scheduled departure from the country.

OFWs have expressed mixed reactions concerning the e-travel system. Some of them said they see no problem with the system, while others are complaining that the government is imposing too many requirements.

The DMW noted that the BI shall discontinue using paper-based arrival and departure cards starting in May.

The BI previously announced that it would stop the use of paper-based departure cards and require travelers to fill out their departure and arrival cards online.