After facing public criticism, the Philippines’ Department of Justice (DoJ) has decided to temporarily halt the implementation of updated travel guidelines for Filipinos leaving the country. These rules, initially set to begin on September 3, have been put on hold.

The DoJ clarified that the aim of these revisions was not to burden travelers but to improve the overall departure process. They emphasized that the intention was to find a balance between national security and making travel smoother and more efficient.

This decision to suspend the rules followed objections from senators who found some requirements too strict. For instance, the need for an authorized affidavit of support and guarantee when Filipinos visit relatives abroad was seen as burdensome. The DoJ’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) had outlined a list of documents that travelers, especially Filipino expats returning after a vacation, had to obtain before flying. Initially, there was confusion, but the DoJ later clarified that the revised guidelines were essentially a clarification of existing rules and issued an apology for any confusion caused.