The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified that the proposed Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project remains under review and has not been signed or finalized.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the clarification following reports claiming that the government would soon collect a P480 fee from travelers.
Viado said the actual proposal involves a $4 user fee, or around P247, not P480. He said the confusion prompted him to order a thorough review of the project and call for consultations with concerned sectors.
The BI chief said the bureau supports efforts to modernize the country’s border control system to help combat transnational crimes, human trafficking, terrorism and other emerging security threats.
However, he stressed that any additional charge affecting passengers must be carefully studied, properly explained and subjected to consultation.
“We recognize the importance of modernizing our border management infrastructure to better combat transnational crimes, human trafficking, terrorism, and other emerging security threats. At the same time, we understand the sentiments of our kababayan, especially during challenging economic times. Any proposal that may affect travelers financially must undergo proper review, consultation, and clear public communication,” Viado said.
The proposed CAISS project seeks to upgrade immigration processing through advanced facial recognition systems, automated gates and real-time risk assessment tools aimed at making airport procedures faster, safer and more efficient.
Viado said the review will include consultations with stakeholders from the airline, tourism and transport sectors.
He added that the bureau will closely examine data privacy concerns, passenger impact and the project’s actual benefits before any decision is made.