BI proposes to charge passengers P480 for 'advanced border security system'
If all goes as planned, the Bureau of Immigration, together with a private partner, will implement a new and improved border security system in the country.
However, under the plan, the BI will charge passengers leaving and entering the country a user fee of $4, equivalent to P240 at the current exchange rate (one way).
That’s a total of $8 or P480 for a passenger traveling roundtrip between the Philippines and elsewhere.
This is definitely an additional cost for any traveler.
Yes, you read that right. That’s P480 to be charged on all departing and arriving international passengers, on top of the travel tax, currently at P1,620.
Add that to the cost of traveling to the airport, not to mention the ticket itself, which as it is now remains high, no thanks to skyrocketing fuel costs.
What’s the $4 for?
It’s to pay for a new system that the BI wants to put in place to improve the country’s border management infrastructure.
It could potentially be a good project, I don’t doubt that. We can definitely benefit from better security in our borders. Maybe, with it, we can prevent high-profile Filipinos from escaping to neighboring countries when slapped with non-bailable cases here at home.
The new system
Here’s a glimpse of what the new system is, based on the Project Information Memorandum posted on the BI’s website:
The Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services project is a major PPP aimed at modernizing the country’s border management infrastructure across 11 international airports, one major international seaport and six mobile border crossing stations.
The project stemmed from an unsolicited proposal submitted by foreign firm Securiport LLC through the PPP Center of the Philippines in May 2023.
The Department of Justice, the designated approving body under Republic Act 11966 or the PPP Code, approved the project on Dec. 2, 2025.
“The CAISS is a significant upgrade to the Bureau’s border management capabilities in many years. It combines advanced biometric management and physical security infrastructure under a single, integrated platform, all operated by the Bureau personnel within government-controlled networks and maintained throughout the contact life by the private partner,” the BI document showed.
The BI said the project would use a Build-Train-Maintain-Transfer modality. Securiport, with its local partner, will finance, design, build and maintain the platform at no cost to the Philippine government, the BI assured.
But as I pointed out, the catch is that the cost will be shouldered by the passengers, with the fee to be incorporated in the tickets.
The total project cost is P10.7 billion with no government guarantees or subsidies, according to the BI document.
“Investment recovery is through a user fee of $4 per international traveler, built into airline ticket costs. The concession period is 20 years from the commercial operations, after which the assets are transferred to the government,” the document also showed.
The case for modernization
The BI said the project is necessary because its border management infrastructure requires a fundamental update.
“Current hardware systems are not the most efficient and processing workflows cannot easily integrate within modern threat databases or international data-sharing platforms. Additionally, the capability to run real-time biometric checks, cross-reference international watchlists or conduct meaningful advance passenger analysis is not at par with the most efficient border control systems in other parts of the world,” the BI said. The main goal, the BI added, is to have an Automated Border Control System to be implemented through the CAISS project.
The expected results are:
- Enhanced national security as real-time risk assessment using integrated intelligence and biometric systems will strengthen border surveillance and prevent the entry of persons involved in transnational crimes, such as human trafficking and terrorism.
- Greater operational efficiency as automation will increase passenger volume at international ports.
- Improved passenger experience through frictionless processing using the self-service E-Gates.
4) Data-driven decision making as the BI will be able to detect threats and trends early through advanced analytics and information sharing with partner agencies. Furthermore, the BI said, the CAISS platform will cover every phase of the traveler lifecycle from pre-arrival to departure. The project encompasses four key pillars: civil infrastructure; technical infrastructure; border control process management and analytics and risk assessment.
What comprises the security check?
There will be advance passenger information processing, traveler entry and exit processing, traveler identity management, traveler background screening (including social media checks); travel risk assessment and targeting; secondary screening and investigation support as well as system monitoring, reporting and analytics. I don’t know when this will be implemented exactly but based on another document, the BI is hoping to issue the notice of award in November this year (after subjecting the proposal to a challenge). As I said, the new system could potentially be good for the Philippines.