BI expects full implementation of advanced passenger info system by 2022

This undated photo shows the facade of the Bureau of Immigration’s main office in the city of Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is expecting the full implementation of the advanced passenger information system (APIS) by 2022, its spokesperson said on Thursday.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, during the Laging Handa briefing, explained that the APIS is a system wherein other airlines and the immigration’s systems are linked to see the details of an arriving passenger.

“Ang kanilang mga booking details, mga detalye po ng kanilang pagkatao kung sila po ay may derogatory  records and it would really help na makita po natin in advance kung mayroon pong mga possible terrorist, na may mga kaso, may mga Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) watch list. Makikita na po natin iyan pag-book pa lang po nila,” she expounded.

(Their booking details, personal details, if they have derogatory records and it would really help to see in advance if he/she is a possible terrorist or has a case, or in the Interpol watch list. We can see that once they are booked.)

Sandoval said that they are anticipating the system’s full implementation by 2022.

“Actually, we are looking forward to its full implementation hopefully by the start of 2022. Nakalagay na po, iyong mga (It’s in place, the) technologies po niyan are being developed already and iyong (the) manpower po natin are already in place. So, we’re expecting po ito na ma-implement na po (to be implemented) immediately,” she said.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Sandoval said that its implementation is underway and shared that their personnel already had undergone training.

“A few days ago our personnel involved already had training with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and other international agencies to guide the Bureau on how to utilize the data that can be extracted from the APIS to analyze advance data and travel patterns and prevent terrorism and other transnational crimes,” she pointed out.

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JPV