IN what appears to be an effort to ensure border control, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order that would give the government an idea on who are entering the country, even before the scheduled incoming flight from anywhere around the globe.
Under Duterte’s Executive order 122, the government embarks on strengthening the country’s border control through advanced passenger information (API) systems.
The API is an electronic communication containing passenger-related information, such as flight details and personal information that will be transmitted to the Bureau of Immigration prior to arrival at or departure from any port of entry.
The captain, master or agent, or owner of a commercial carrier whose vehicle or aircraft is arriving at or departing from any port within the Philippines should provide the API to the immigration bureau, ordered the President.
“The API shall serve as initial security vetting of passengers, crew and non-crew members to effectively facilitate and expedite the arrival and departure process of legitimate travelers during primary inspection,” Duterte said.
The immigration bureau shall vet the API with its own database and when necessary, using non-law enforcement databases, notices by the International Criminal Police Organization, United Nations Security Council sanctions, and travel bans.
The bureau may share the API “in furtherance of regional and international security” and for law enforcement, intelligence and counter-terrorism, said Duterte.
API contents shall be maintained for no more than 12 months, unless it is classified as terrorism or crime-related data, the President said.
2020-12-16