The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), have launched a new border control system aimed at enhancing national security and border management.
The new initiative, the Advance Passenger Information (API) System, is designed to strengthen the Philippines’ ability to detect and prevent threats such as terrorism and organized crime.
“We are not just stopping threats before they arrive; we are building a system of trust and cooperation that allows us to work seamlessly with our partners at home and abroad,” said Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.
“Threats do not stop at national borders, and neither should our efforts to combat them,” he added.
The launch, which took place on March 20, marked the Philippines as the seventh member state and the first in the ASEAN region to deploy the ‘goTravel’ platform, a vital component of the UN’s global efforts to enhance border security and counter terrorist travel.
The API System will facilitate end-to-end processing of passenger data, offering local and international authorities an effective way to collaborate, assess risks, and prevent the travel of criminals and terrorists. It will also ensure the protection of personal data and privacy while enhancing border security.
“With this set in place, we reduce the risk of threats slipping through our immigration controls. We also enhance our ability to act swiftly and effectively when security agencies identify risks,” Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez emphasized.
The system’s launch was attended by several key figures, including Undersecretaries Raul T. Vasquez and Jose R. Cadiz Jr., BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado, UN Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu, and UNOCT Countering Terrorist Travel Section Chief Christine Bradley.
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