DIGITAL GOVERNANCE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos presides over a Cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (Oct. 25, 2022). Marcos and his Cabinet discussed the government’s initiatives to automate services and plans to further relax travel restrictions in the country. (Photo from the Office of the Press Secretary's official Facebook page)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos and his Cabinet discussed on Tuesday the government’s initiatives to automate services and plans to further relax travel restrictions in the country.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the shift to digital governance, as well as the implementation of health protocols and the easing of travel restrictions amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic are among the agenda of the Cabinet meeting held at Malacañan Palace.
“Nakipagpulong si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos ngayong araw sa kanyang gabinete upang talakayin ang pag-usad ng mga plano ng administrasyon, kabilang na ang pagpapabuti ng pampublikong serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng digital na pamamaraan (President Ferdinand R. Marcos met with his Cabinet today to discuss his administration’s plans, including the proposed digitalization to improve public services),” the OPS said in a Facebook post.
“Pinag-usapan din sa miting ang health protocols ng bansa pagdating sa pagbiyahe at ang panukalang gawing mas maluwag ang travel restrictions sa bansa (The health protocols for travelers and the proposal to further ease travel restrictions in the country were also tackled),” it added.
Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the OPS, announced Monday that the government will mandate the use of electronic arrival (eArrival) card, a scan-and-go system in the country's airports beginning Nov. 1 this year.
Starting Nov. 1, the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) will require all inbound travelers to obtain an eArrival card within 72 hours prior their departure from their country of origin.
Arriving travelers may secure an eArrival card by visiting the website onehealthpass.com.ph or by scanning the QR code indicated in the poster released by the Department of Health (DOH).
The use of eArrival Card would make travel in the country more convenient, as it would remove unnecessary information fields present in the One Health Pass system.
The Philippine government is eyeing the further relaxation of the country’s stringent entry protocols to attract more tourists.
Marcos, in his weekly vlog released on Oct. 22, encouraged Filipinos to explore the beauty of the Philippines to spur economic growth.
Marcos emphasized the need to promote local tourism to generate more economic activities in the country.
He also vowed to continue attending promotional tourism activities in provinces and make more provinces accessible to travelers.
He said he would be persistent in promoting the Philippines as a destination ready to welcome local and foreign travelers. (PNA)
