BI Chief Defends CAISS as Vital Upgrade to Philippine Border Security
MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado defended the proposed Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project before the House of Representatives on August 24, saying the P10.7-billion public-private partnership would strengthen the country’s ability to protect its borders against terrorism, human trafficking, smuggling and other transnational crimes.
Viado said the proposed partnership with US-based Securiport LLC would modernize the country’s aging border-control system through biometrics, advanced analytics, passenger information systems and stronger international database integration.
“We need a more integrative program covering a border security platform with biometrics, advanced analytics, and passenger information systems to enhance national security and immigration control,” Viado told lawmakers during the House budget hearing.
He said the existing system, which still relies heavily on manual processes and outdated databases, is no longer sufficient to address increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminals and terrorists.
Private sector to fund system
Viado stressed that the proposed CAISS project would require no direct government capitalization. Under the proposal, Securiport would provide P10.74 billion for the initial five-year period, maintain and upgrade the system every four years over a 20-year period, and train BI personnel.
He said the arrangement would allow the government to acquire a comprehensive border-security platform without having to allocate P10.7 billion from the national budget.
The proposed system would be funded through a P240 one-way service fee, or P480 for a round trip, which Viado emphasized is a service charge rather than a tax.
He also pointed out that similar passenger-related fees in other countries are considerably higher, citing charges in Australia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong.
OFWs and travel fees
During the hearing, lawmakers raised concerns about the possible impact of the proposed fee on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Viado maintained that OFWs would not shoulder the cost when the fee is part of expenses covered by their foreign employers under existing rules governing overseas employment.
He said the distinction is important because the proposed charge is intended as a service fee for travelers rather than an additional tax imposed on Filipino workers.
Advanced security capabilities
According to Viado, CAISS would provide immigration authorities with a broader range of tools for identifying and assessing high-risk travelers.
The proposed system would include advanced biometric matching, passenger information analysis, integration with Interpol databases, artificial-intelligence-assisted open-source intelligence and pre-arrival passenger screening.
Viado said the technology could allow authorities to identify potential risks before a passenger boards a flight bound for the Philippines.
He also said the system could help airlines avoid the cost of transporting passengers back to their points of origin when they are later denied entry into the country.
The project is intended to support government efforts against human trafficking, smuggling, drug and weapons trafficking, terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion and organized crime.
Government to retain data control
Data privacy and national sovereignty were also raised during the hearing.
Viado assured lawmakers that the Philippine government would retain control over immigration and passenger data. He said Securiport would provide the technology, tools and training, but would not control the government’s data.
He also clarified that immigration officers would continue to make the final decisions on passenger admissibility, with artificial intelligence and analytics serving only as decision-support tools.
Revenue-sharing arrangement questioned
Lawmakers also questioned the proposed 95-5 revenue-sharing arrangement between the private proponent and the government.
Viado said the government’s five-percent share would be used for BI modernization initiatives and would also go to the National Treasury.
He maintained that the projected P192-billion revenue over 20 years should not be viewed simply as profit, but in the context of financing and maintaining a continuously upgraded border-security system over the life of the partnership.
CAISS different from e-Gates
Viado also distinguished CAISS from the existing e-Gates program.
He said e-Gates provide automated border-control functions, while CAISS is designed as a more comprehensive platform integrating biometrics, passenger information, Interpol connectivity and other intelligence capabilities.
He said the proposed system would expand border security beyond the country’s physical airports by enabling authorities to assess potential travelers even before they depart for the Philippines.
Project still under review
Viado said the proposal has undergone a review involving several government agencies, including the Public-Private Partnership Center, Department of Justice, Department of Finance and Office of the Solicitor General.
He confirmed that the project went through a Swiss Challenge process, but no competing proponent submitted a challenge.
Viado emphasized that no contract has yet been signed and that the proposal remains under review.
In response to lawmakers’ requests for greater transparency, he committed to providing the House with the relevant documents, including the proposed contract, terms of reference, the private company’s proposal and resolutions of the bidding committee.
The disclosure, he said, would allow lawmakers to thoroughly scrutinize the project before the budget process is finalized.
For Viado, the proposed CAISS project represents a long-term effort to modernize Philippine border security and equip immigration authorities with the technology needed to respond to evolving threats while maintaining government control over critical immigration data and decisions.
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