The Department of Foreign Affairs announces on Saturday, January 13, 2024, that the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh has repatriated 27 Filipinos from Cambodia. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� There is no finish line in sight yet for the ongoing review of the Philippine e-visa system in China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.
In November last year, the without providing any explanation for the suspension.
However, during a press conference, DFA Visa Director Leilani Feliciano told reporters that the suspension is in place to facilitate the review and reassessment of the system.
鈥淎fter undergoing beta-testing and [pilot] implementation in Chinese service posts, the e-visa system is currently undergoing a period of reassessment and further enhancement,鈥� she said.
However, the director did not give a target date for the system鈥檚 continuation.
鈥淎s soon as we make those significant improvements鈥we can] continue,鈥� Feliciano added.
DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Adelio Cruz said that they were able to issue 4,090 e-Visas to Chinese citizens before its suspension.
The DFA had previously advised visa applicants in China to contact their nearest Philippine embassy for further inquiries 鈥� a message reiterated by the visa director.
Why the review?
As for what sparked this somewhat sudden period of reassessment of the e-visa system, Cruz explained that this is due to the difference between the Philippines鈥� and China鈥檚 payment systems.
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鈥淭he big concern we鈥檙e facing right now is that China has its own payment system,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he applicant cannot be burdened by the processing fee nor can we impose that on the Philippine government. [So] we鈥檙e trying to find the middle ground,鈥� Cruz noted.
Meanwhile, DFA Undersecretary Jesus Domingo said that while the system is a project of the agency and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, there have been proposals to introduce a third-party entity to address its concerns.
But Domingo said that there is no decision yet on the matter.
The e-visa system was pilot-tested in Shanghai, China in August 2023.