BI database linked with Interpol now running in 10 int’l airports

NAIA terminal 3. FILE PHOTO

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration is beefing up its gatekeeping capabilities with the integration of its databases with those of other government agencies and the Interpol.

The agency has begun implementing the BI Information System, which links up information sources and databases from the BI, government agencies and its international partners.

BI commissioner Jaime Morente said the Filipino-designed system has been up and running in 10 international airports, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The system has been focusing on stronger border control and improved service efficiency, he said.

Morente is expected to lead the formal launching of the BIIS, one of the agency’s flagship projects, at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Friday.

Immigration officers can now access a centralized database of more than 320 million records of arrivals and departures, which is also linked to the databases of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency.

By linking databases from both local and international law enforcement agencies, the BI hopes to reduce the processing time at immigration counters from one minute to 30 seconds.

Morente said the BIIS was programmed for quicker search and query through improved search engines and query functions.

Immigration officers can now capture actual photos of passengers and take biometrics data with the deployment of cameras and fingerprint scanners in all points of entry.

The BI will also be better equipped with improved anti-fraud control with the activation of ultra-violet and infrared auto-detection of passports in order to identify fake passports.

The BIIS also has a Face Recognition System, which will allow for visual identity capability, with the BIIS linked to the databases of the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

They will now be able to process and verify the records of overseas Filipino workers much faster with the successful integration of the POEA database, according to Morente.

“Even more good news is that the BIIS is fully integrated with INTERPOL, (with the Philippines being) the first ASEAN country to be connected and have access to Interpol Data 24/7 or what we simply call i24/7,” he said.

This will allow the BI access to 17 databases that include data on 166 notices on international criminals, stolen and lost travel documents with almost 60 million records, fingerprint databases, and travel documents associated with notices.  SFM