The Bureau of Immigration is now using a state-of-the-art biometrics-based system for its computers to detect and thwart the entry of foreign fugitives, terrorists and undesirable aliens coming into the country.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been using the new software, called the Border Control Information System, in processing all international passengers entering and exiting the premiere ports.
“A major feature of this new system is that aside from speeding up the processing time for passengers, it is also capable of detecting attempts by undesirable aliens, such as wanted fugitives and terrorists, to enter the country even if they come in as impostors or in disguise,” Morente said.
He said the BCIS requires computers to be equipped with cameras and finger scan devices that all passengers lining up for immigration inspection must go through every time they travel in or out of the country.
“Each time a passenger’s face is captured by camera and his fingers are scanned, the results are automatically crossed matched with the passport image and images in the BI database, where personal details of persons with derogatory records are stored,” the immigration chief said.
The BCIS is also interconnected with the database of the Interpol and the Australian immigration department. Individuals who are in these agencies’ wanted list will be caught if any of them attempts to enter the country, according to BI port operations division chief Marc Red Mariñas.
“With this system the use of fraudulent travel documents and disguising one’s physical appearance will soon become inutile,” Mariñas said. “The chances that they will not be caught is very slim.”
“The new system is now being used in all international ports nationwide,” he added.
In October, more men were deployed to man Immigration booths at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to cope with the influx of passengers ahead of the holidays.
Mariñas, Naia's chief immigration officer, said at least 100 newly-trained personnel from the bureau’s Academy in Pampanga will be assigned to assist officers in their 24/7 operations at Naia terminals 1, 2 and 3.
“Two hundred more men will be on standby. This is to prevent long lines at immigration booths because we’re expecting the number of air travelers increase this year,” said Mariñas.
Mariñas also tapped Travel Control and Enforcement Unit supervisors Bien Guevarra (Terminal 1), Glenn Comia (Terminal 2) and Den Binsol Terminal 3) to prepare their men for the holiday exodus in line with the government’s “Oplan Undas 2017” program.
In August, the Bureau deployed additional immigration officers to international ports outside of Metro Manila to thwart the entry of foreign terrorists and other undesirable aliens in the provinces.
Morente said he had already issued personnel orders directing scores of Immigration officers to report for duty in other international ports nationwide.
The immigration chief said the move was aimed at augmenting the number of BI personnel assigned in these ports, whose primary function is to process and screen arriving and departing foreign and local travelers.
The places where the Immigration officers were reassigned are the airports in Mactan-Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, and the international seaport in Zamboanga City.
According to Morente, the BI can now afford to disperse its personnel to the provinces as the bureau continues to expedite the recruitment of Immigration officers.
“We are still in the process of selecting qualified applicants to hundreds of vacant positions for Immigration officers,” the BI chief said.
Mariñas said he recommended the personnel deployment to the provinces because there are now enough immigration officers currently assigned at the Naia.
Mariñas said the perennial problem of manpower lack at the Naia has been squarely addressed with the entry of more than a hundred new immigration officers in the past two months.
“As more and more immigration officers are hired in the next few months, there will be more who will be reassigned and deployed to the provinces to beef up our manpower in ports where we used to have a negligible presence,” he added.
Mariñas said the BI is close to meeting the ideal number of immigration officers who should be stationed at the Naia, thus paving the way for the deployment of more personnel to other ports.