BI warns passengers vs fake eTravel sites amid Holy Week exodus

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday reminded travelers to be vigilant against scammers who take advantage of the surge in passenger traffic by operating fraudulent websites that charge fees for eTravel, or the government’s electronic travel declaration system.

BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the advisory amid the influx in travelers at the country’s international airports and seaports during Holy Week.

In a statement, Viado stressed that registration in the eTravel platform is free of charge.

“The eTravel registration process is absolutely free. We strongly advise the public to register only through the official government website at etravel.gov.ph,” he said.

He urged travelers to be on the lookout for fake websites and online entities that require payment for eTravel registration.

“These are clear cases of fraud. The public should not fall victim to these schemes, especially during the holiday rush,” Viado said.

Passengers who come across fraudulent websites and activities may report these incidents to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

Viado said travelers may accomplish their eTravel registration through the national government’s eGovPH mobile app.

He added that the BI deployed additional frontline personnel to the country’s major airports in anticipation of 45,000 international passengers departing daily during the Holy Week.

“We are expecting heavy passenger volume throughout the Holy Week period, with a possibility of daily departures reaching up to 45,000. All our officers are on full alert to ensure that operations remain orderly and efficient,” Viado said.

Earlier, the BI told passengers to be at airports hours before their flight and to have all travel documents in order to avoid delays during immigration checks.

“This is the peak of the Holy Week exodus. We expect some queues at the airports because of the sheer number of travelers, but we commit to full deployment for a manageable airport experience for passengers,” Viado said.

“Our priority is to provide seamless service despite the surge in passengers. We ask for the public’s cooperation as we work to ensure safe and orderly travel for everyone this Holy Week,” he added. — JMA, GMA News