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Advocates Philippines
BI Commissioner Suspends Implementation Of 2023 Revised Departure Guidelines Following Senate Concerns
Photo Credit: Bureau of Immigration
In response to mounting concerns raised in the Senate, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued an order on Thursday (August 31,2023) to halt the enforcement of the 2023 Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities. The decision was made in conjunction with the announcement from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) that it will temporarily suspend the guidelines.
The 2023 Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities, proposed by the IACAT, aimed to enhance and streamline the departure procedures for Filipinos, ensuring a more efficient and secure process. The primary objective was to properly document departing Filipinos based on their intended purpose of travel.
Commissioner Tansingco clarified that the revised guidelines did not impose additional requirements on regular departing tourists. The guidelines were designed to categorize departing individuals and list the necessary documentary prerequisites before their departure. Tansingco emphasized that the right to travel remained intact and that the IACAT's goal was to ensure proper documentation aligned with the purpose of travel.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla expressed the necessity of temporarily suspending the guidelines to provide comprehensive clarity to both the public and senators regarding the concerns surrounding the revised regulations.
Under the previous and temporarily reinstated rules, regular tourists are only required to present standard documents, including a valid passport, necessary visa for the destination country, round-trip ticket, boarding pass, and e-travel authorization. Additional documentation might be requested for individuals undergoing secondary inspection or those flagged with potential inconsistencies between their documents and the stated purpose of travel. This applies to less than 1% of departing Filipinos.
Tansingco highlighted that the guidelines in place had been effective since 2012, with revisions in 2015, and that immigration officers had adhered to consistent metrics throughout.
The temporary suspension of the revised guidelines implies the continuation of the existing rules until further notice. Commissioner Tansingco expressed the BI's respect for the Senate's resolution and confirmed their commitment to collaborating with various inter-agency members to address concerns and provide clarifications to the public.
Moreover, Tansingco noted that the suspension provided an opportunity to shed light on the issue of human trafficking and welcomed discussions on comprehensive measures to combat this societal problem. The IACAT intended to use the situation as a platform to address the realities of human trafficking and to explore holistic approaches toward its eradication.
The 2023 Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities, proposed by the IACAT, aimed to enhance and streamline the departure procedures for Filipinos, ensuring a more efficient and secure process. The primary objective was to properly document departing Filipinos based on their intended purpose of travel.
Commissioner Tansingco clarified that the revised guidelines did not impose additional requirements on regular departing tourists. The guidelines were designed to categorize departing individuals and list the necessary documentary prerequisites before their departure. Tansingco emphasized that the right to travel remained intact and that the IACAT's goal was to ensure proper documentation aligned with the purpose of travel.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla expressed the necessity of temporarily suspending the guidelines to provide comprehensive clarity to both the public and senators regarding the concerns surrounding the revised regulations.
Under the previous and temporarily reinstated rules, regular tourists are only required to present standard documents, including a valid passport, necessary visa for the destination country, round-trip ticket, boarding pass, and e-travel authorization. Additional documentation might be requested for individuals undergoing secondary inspection or those flagged with potential inconsistencies between their documents and the stated purpose of travel. This applies to less than 1% of departing Filipinos.
Tansingco highlighted that the guidelines in place had been effective since 2012, with revisions in 2015, and that immigration officers had adhered to consistent metrics throughout.
The temporary suspension of the revised guidelines implies the continuation of the existing rules until further notice. Commissioner Tansingco expressed the BI's respect for the Senate's resolution and confirmed their commitment to collaborating with various inter-agency members to address concerns and provide clarifications to the public.
Moreover, Tansingco noted that the suspension provided an opportunity to shed light on the issue of human trafficking and welcomed discussions on comprehensive measures to combat this societal problem. The IACAT intended to use the situation as a platform to address the realities of human trafficking and to explore holistic approaches toward its eradication.
Aug 31, 2023
