BI backs end-to-end AI-powered border security system for national entry points

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is pushing for a nationwide border security modernization program that would integrate artificial intelligence, biometrics, electronic gates, and real-time data analytics across major international entry and exit points in the country.

In a briefing, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the proposed Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) Project is designed as an end-to-end system that goes beyond upgrades at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), linking multiple border control sites into a single integrated platform.

According to Sandoval, the system would cover 11 international airports, one international seaport in Zamboanga, and six border crossing stations. She said the project would connect frontline inspection, data collection, assessment, and processing into one unified infrastructure supported by artificial intelligence and biometric verification.

Sandoval said the proposed system would allow immigration authorities to improve passenger screening and develop a more targeted approach in monitoring travelers flagged for further assessment.

“Ang kagandahan po nitong proyektong ito ay end-to-end,” Sandoval said, adding that the system is not centralized in NAIA but would be deployed across multiple ports of entry nationwide.

She said the technology would include electronic gates, biometric capture systems, and AI-driven data processing designed to improve both security and efficiency in immigration operations. Sandoval added that the system could help bring Philippine border management technology closer to the standards used in other countries.

The BI said the proposed platform would also enable authorities to sort and analyze traveler information in real time, supporting risk-based screening and faster processing of passengers.

The project, valued at about P10.74 billion, is being pursued through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Under the proposal, a private partner would finance, develop, operate, and maintain the system, with costs recovered through user fees.

Sandoval said the arrangement is designed so that the government will not provide direct funding, and only travelers using the system would shoulder the cost.

“Kung sino lang yung gagamit, yun lang po ang magbabayad,” she said, stressing that Filipinos who do not use the service would not be financially burdened.

A key feature of the proposal is a technology refresh cycle every four years, which, according to the BI, ensures that the system remains updated without requiring additional government spending.

The project has undergone a Swiss challenge process, a competitive mechanism for unsolicited PPP proposals that allows other companies to submit better offers. Sandoval said the government also reached out to firms with similar technologies, but no competing proposals were submitted.

She added that the proposal has been reviewed by the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Solicitor General. However, she clarified that no contract has been signed and the project remains under evaluation.

Sandoval also said that while the BI is promoting the potential benefits of the system, policymakers must balance modernization efforts with possible costs and public concerns.

“It’s a delicate balance between what this can contribute to the country and the costs involved,” she said, noting that public opinion and stakeholder feedback remain part of the ongoing review process.

The BI emphasized that no fees are currently being collected, and any implementation will still require final government approval.

If approved, the CAISS Project would represent one of the most extensive upgrades to the Philippines’ border management system, aimed at strengthening security, improving efficiency, and modernizing passenger processing across key international gateways.