Int'l aviation agency commends RP for ePassport project

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has commended the Philippines for implementing its electronic passport (ePassport) program. A statement posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website said ICAO president Robert Kobeh Gonzales described the issuance of the ePassport as "highly significant," as it facilitates the transit of passengers through international airports and provides greater safety. Gonzales made the remarks during his recent courtesy call to DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo. The DFA said the ePassport, which is compliant with ICAO standards, has been one of the flagship projects of the department in recent years. "The Philippines is one of the first 60 countries which have implemented the ePassport, well ahead of the ICAO schedule. Filipino travelers are enjoying the benefits of a modern, tamper-proof and secure travel document," the DFA said in the statement. Gonzalez likewise expressed optimism in the corrective measures adopted by the government to address aviation safety concerns, saying that the Philippines is "moving in the right direction." For his part, Romulo said the ICAO-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is committed in implementing projects to improve Philippine aviation. The ICAO validation team has planned a visit to the country in late 2010 or early 2011, while the European Union Aviation Safety is likewise expected in Manila this coming October, to check on the progress of the government’s corrective projects. The DFA has recently come under fire following complaints from several groups on the longer waiting time for appointments, higher fees for passport services and the presence of fixers at the new Office of Consular affairs building in the Aseana Business Park in Parañaque City. Allegations of irregularities have likewise hounded the project, following a paid advertisement in a major publication alleging that the said projects were tainted with corruption. The ad described the ePassport project as "a graft-ridden project that was implemented by Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo involving the precipitate and totally baseless termination by the DFA of an ongoing build-operate-transfer contract" with BCA International Corp. for machine readable passports. The DFA has denied the allegations. - Jerrie M. Abella/KBK, GMANews.TV