Modernization of border security now an imperative — DOJ chief

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Fredderick A. Vida called for the immediate modernization of the country’s border security system, saying it is no longer an option but an urgent necessity as criminal networks become increasingly sophisticated and operate across borders.

“Criminal networks do not respect territorial boundaries; our response therefore must equally be sophisticated, coordinated and forward-looking. Modernization is no longer an option. It is an imperative,” Vida said during the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) 86th anniversary celebration on September 11.

Vida pointed to the growing complexity of threats confronting the country’s borders, including transnational organized crime, human trafficking, terrorism, illegal recruitment, document fraud, identity theft, and other forms of cross-border criminal activity.

As an attached agency of the DOJ, the BI continues to pursue reforms in line with the administration’s digital transformation agenda and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to accelerate the digitization and modernization of government operations.

Vida said border management must keep pace with emerging threats while ensuring that legitimate travelers continue to experience efficient, secure, and streamlined immigration procedures.

Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado highlighted the accomplishments of the Bureau and its personnel, saying these should serve as a foundation for further reforms and modernization.

Viado emphasized the need for the BI to continuously evolve through the use of technology and digitalization, stronger border intelligence, and more efficient immigration processes.

“The journey ahead has already begun, but the road ahead will require more than accomplishments. It will require us to remain focused on our mission while constantly looking toward the Bureau we aspire to become,” Viado said.

He described modernization as a lasting legacy that current BI personnel can build for an institution that has served the country for 86 years.

“Modernization is a legacy we can commit to an institution that has existed for 86 years,” Viado said.

The BI’s 86th anniversary highlighted the agency’s continuing transformation toward becoming a modern border management institution capable of facilitating legitimate travel while strengthening its mandate to protect the country’s borders and national security.

Viado had earlier emphasized the need for modernization during a House of Representatives hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the DOJ and its attached agencies.

A ₱10.74-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project proposal is currently under review by the Department of Finance, the Office of the Solicitor General, and the PPP Center.

Under the proposed Build-Train-Maintain-Transfer scheme, an integrated border security platform would be installed across 11 airports and border entry points to help address human trafficking, smuggling, terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion, and organized crime.

The proposal also provides for regular system upgrades every four years over a 20-year period, with the project designed to be implemented at no cost to the government.