BI conducts live demo of advance passenger info system
The Bureau of Immigration conducted a live demonstration of its advance passenger information system (APIS) through the United Nations’ goTravel Air Software Solution, a system that “tracks and assesses passenger data in real time.”
With its APIS, the Philippines can now receive information on terrorists and criminals before they arrive in the country.
The goTravel system was developed under the UN’s Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). It enables authorities to assess passenger information in real-time, thus helping prevent the movement of high-risk individuals and strengthening a country’s defenses against terrorism and transnational crime.
The recent live demonstration was conducted by Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado and attended by representatives of various government agencies and Rachelle Ann Lim of the UNOCTA.
After the presentation, Lim assured UNOCTA’s support to enhance the Philippines' border management capacity.
To successfully implement the system, Viado said that inter-agency cooperation is crucial.
“This demonstration marks a major step forward in modernizing our border control processes. With goTravel, we are embracing technology to better protect our country while ensuring efficient travel for legitimate passengers,” he said.
He also assured the BI’s commitment to continue working closely with partner agencies and with the UN to fully integrate the goTravel system into the Philippines’ broader national security and immigration infrastructure.
Among the top government officials who attended the live demonstration were Undersecretary Bernardo C. Florence, Jr. of the Anti-Terrorism Council – Program Management Center (ATC-PMC), Office of the President; Undersecretary Jose R. Cadiz, Jr. of the Department of Justice, who also oversees the BI; and Director John Roland P. Mabbun from the Office of the Executive Secretary.
The demonstration was also attended by representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Quarantine, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).