Malacañang on Wednesday announced that filling out the Electronic Arrival Card or the e-Arrival Card will no longer be mandatory as a prerequisite to boarding.

According to Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, lanes will be set up at the country's gateways for those complying with the government requirement.

She added that the Marcos administration will also implement the e-Arrival Card scan-and-go system in the country's airports to ensure ease of travel for incoming travelers.

The Department of Health earlier announced that starting 1 November this year, the Bureau of Quarantine will require all inbound travelers to have an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin.

During a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said it was approved during the Cabinet meeting that filling out of e-Arrival Card would not be made mandatory as a prerequisite to boarding.

"The overarching direction of the Marcos administration is to allow our country to convey an openness and a readiness to the world to receive tourists and investments so that we would give our fellow Filipinos an opportunity to regain all the livelihood and losses that were incurred during the pandemic," she said.

It means travelers can fill out the e-Arrival Card at their own convenience — prior to departure or upon arrival.