P240 Border security fee among the cheapest in the world- BI Chief

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado defended the proposed P240 service fee for the use of a modernized border security system, saying it would be among the cheapest such charges in the world.

Viado made the statement during a House of Representatives hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Justice and its attached agencies.

The P10.74-billion project, proposed by US-based Securiport LLC, seeks to establish an integrated border security platform across 11 airports and border points in the Philippines.

Under the proposed Build-Train-Maintain-Transfer scheme, the private partner would initially finance the project and recover its investment through a $4 or approximately P240 fee per international traveler. For a round trip, the fee could reach around P480 and would be incorporated into airline tickets.

CHEAPER THAN OTHER COUNTRIES

Viado said the proposed Philippine fee is significantly lower than similar charges imposed in other countries.

He cited Australia, where the charge is around P2,600 per passenger; Singapore, P2,400; Japan, P1,200; Hong Kong, P1,500; and Thailand, around P1,800.

Viado stressed that the proposed charge is not a tax but a service fee, arguing that travelers who use the system should shoulder its cost rather than ordinary taxpayers.

AI, FACIAL RECOGNITION FEATURES

The proposed system would include facial recognition, behavioral analytics, automated border controls and integration with Interpol databases.

It would also feature AI-assisted open-source intelligence capabilities that could analyze publicly available information online to help authorities identify individuals considered high-risk.

The system is intended to strengthen the government’s efforts against human trafficking, smuggling, terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion and organized crime.

OFWs NOT EXPECTED TO SHOULDER THE FEE

Viado also clarified that the proposed fee should not become an additional burden on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to him, foreign employers hiring Filipino workers may be required to shoulder the service fee, consistent with existing rules governing the recruitment and employment of OFWs.

GOVERNMENT TO RECEIVE 5% OF PROJECTED COLLECTIONS

During the hearing, Viado confirmed that the project is projected to generate around P202 billion in total collections over 20 years.

Under the current proposal, 95% would go to the private proponent while 5% would go to the Philippine government. The government’s share would be remitted to the National Treasury and used to support BI projects.

The project has also undergone a Swiss challenge, but no competing proposal was submitted.

CONTRACT NOT YET FINALIZED

Viado emphasized that no contract has been signed and that the proposal remains under review by the concerned government agencies.

The proposed service fee is still being evaluated by the Department of Finance, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Public-Private Partnership Center.

He also assured lawmakers that sovereignty and control over the data would remain with the Philippine government.

According to Viado, the private proponent would provide the technology and train government personnel, but would not have control over the data.

If implemented, the private partner would finance the project’s capitalization for the first five years and provide regular system upgrades every four years throughout the 20-year project period, without direct cost to the government.