The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has streamlined arrival procedures for travelers entering the Philippines, saying QR code scanning will now be required only for those carrying goods or currency that must be declared and taxed.
According to a report by News5, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the change addresses long queues and inconvenience for passengers, especially those caught off guard by the extra step.
“Makikita niyo humahaba ang pila doon — nakakahiya sa ating mga bisita at mga kababayang dumarating,” Nepomuceno explained, noting that many travelers fumble to retrieve the QR code on their phones or face issues like low battery.
While the e-Travel form remains mandatory, Nepomuceno said most passengers — about 90 percent — have nothing to declare. He added that the QR code requirement was initially linked to the country’s inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force gray list, from which the Philippines was removed earlier this year.
The BOC assured that security will not be compromised, citing profiling, intelligence operations, and X-ray screening as part of ongoing border control measures.
