Senator Nancy Binay urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to make personal appearances at consular offices as a non-negotiable requirement for some categories applying for e-visas.
Binay welcomed the pilot implementation of Philippines’ first-ever electronic visa on August 24 but also urged the foreign affairs department to come up with better homeland security policies to avoid being circumvented by non-technical loopholes, and to lessen the probability of organized syndicates exploiting tour groups and junkets.
“We urge the DFA and NICA to refine national security policies to deter undesirable travelers from extra-legally bypassing immigration laws.”
“We welcome the implementation of e-visas not only to positively boost tourism, but also as our commitment to facilitate ease of travel. In the same vein, we urge the DFA and NICA to refine national security policies to deter undesirable travelers from extra-legally bypassing immigration laws,” the veteran legislator said.
“Alam naman nating marami ring pumupunta sa Pilipinas na iba ang pakay–mas i-review natin ang mga sistema at exemptions to avoid any misuse and abuse by some foreign nationals,” the seasoned lawmaker pointed out.
Electronic visa (e-visa) is the digital version of the standard visa that allows foreign travelers to enter a certain country for a specific period or purpose. In lieu of physical holographic stamps or stickers on the passport, applicants instead receive an e-visa approval code which is linked to their passports.
The lady senator noted that digitalization should improve ease of travel without compromising national security.
“Though the e-visa system temporarily gives us an opportunity to recover and jumpstart Philippine tourism, kailangan natin magkaroon ng serious strategic decision on embracing the system as a modern travel solution. Every visa decision has a national security dimension. Certain parameters on security should be in place, and apply a multi-layered safety plug plus a face-to-face interview to a narrow category of travelers para talagang salang-sala ang mga pumapasok sa bansa,” she added.
Binay said that vetting on TOC-related grounds, and extensive security screening should be the prime considerations in approving visa applications.
“Mas laganap ngayon ang transnational crimes lalo na ang human trafficking and prostitution na mula Mainland China. Gaano ba kasigurado tayo na ang nabibigyan natin ng e-visa eh talagang mga lehitimong turista? As a matter of national interest, I share the DFA’s position to require face-to-face interviews with tourist visa applicants whose profiles fall in marked categories,” she explained.
Binay advised the DFA to proceed with caution, and added that the Bureau of Immigration should also have a system to check on foreign nationals overstaying in the country.
According to her, considering that the Philippines is the only ASEAN country with a Tier 1 status under the US State Department’s annual human trafficking report, DFA cannot turn a blind eye on media reports involving alleged trafficking of Chinese workers to the country.
“We have to take advantage of the global ‘revenge tourism’ phenomenon, but targeting visitor quotas need not dilute national security interests.”
“Lalo pa ngayong unti-unti nang nanunumbalik ang turismo–we also cannot ignore that China is a big market. I share the opinion that we have to take advantage of the global ‘revenge tourism’ phenomenon, but targeting visitor quotas need not dilute national security interests,” Binay stressed.
“At the end of the day, safety nets in homeland security should be in place. Visa applicants must demonstrate their eligibility for an e-visa be it for tourism, business or emergencies purposes. The policy must apply to all foreign nationals, and we always have to be on the side of caution and prudence,” she concluded.
DFA is scheduled to pilot the e-visa on August 24 starting with China and India.
The Philippine e-visa will later allow foreign travelers to enter the country for tourism and business to apply for temporary visas online.
