BI, Australia work on border management Evelyn Macairan - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is partnering with the Australian government for border management involving international flights and cruise ships. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco led a delegation of bureau officials in a study tour program in Canberra and Melbourne from Feb. 5 to 8 to enhance cooperation and knowledge-sharing with the Australian government. Tansingco said they were particularly interested in the discussions on the Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR), which are advanced data used in pre-vetting arriving foreign nationals. API and PNR data contain information on travelers prior to departure and upon booking of their ticket, including personal details such as passport information, addresses and contact details. The data are integral to the BI’s API system, wherein advance data are set to be received by the BI for prior vetting and trends analysis, to be used in better border management. This system, the BI said, would add another layer of security in protecting the country against external threats, including international terrorists. During the study tour, which was facilitated by the Australia Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force, the BI delegation visited key sites, engaged in meetings with senior officers from Australian agencies and participation in roundtable discussions focusing on advanced passenger information, immigration priorities, human trafficking, cyber threats and counter-terrorism efforts.

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