CAISS to keep traveler data within Philippines, Securiport assures

Traveler information collected under the proposed Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) will remain within the Philippines and be used strictly for lawful government purposes, according to Securiport Chief Technology Officer Nate Carpenter.

Carpenter made the assurance during an online interview with reporters on the sidelines of the 21st International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Traveler Identification Program (TRIP) Symposium in Montreal, Canada.

He stressed that keeping sensitive traveler data inside the country is a fundamental requirement for any national security system.

“The data for any national security system needs to stay in the country,” Carpenter said, emphasizing that information must remain in Philippine government data centers and be protected under existing laws and regulations.

He further assured that data collected through CAISS would not be transmitted to foreign jurisdictions or private entities.

“The data is used by the government only for their lawful purpose, and that data is not sent anywhere else,” Carpenter said.

Data sovereignty at the core

Carpenter described data localization as a non-negotiable safeguard in CAISS, particularly as governments around the world strengthen border security while facing growing concerns over privacy and the handling of personal information.

The proposed system is being positioned as a comprehensive upgrade to the country’s border security architecture, with data sovereignty built into its design.

Carpenter also pointed to the growing global adoption of the Digital Travel Credential (DTC), a standardized approach that enables governments and technology providers to securely exchange and process traveler information.

According to Carpenter, the international standard provides governments greater visibility over what information is collected and how it is processed.

The ICAO TRIP Symposium, held from September 22 to 24, brought together representatives from passport and civil registry authorities, border control and law enforcement agencies, aviation security, public health, airlines, airports, international organizations and the technology sector.

Under the theme “Putting Trust into Practice: Towards Trusted Travel Identity for All,” the event focused on traveler identification, border security, privacy protection and interoperability.

Participants also emphasized the need to align emerging travel technologies with ICAO standards to make international travel both more secure and seamless.

Strengthening, not replacing, existing systems

CAISS is a proposed ₱10.74-billion unsolicited Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project of US-based Securiport LLC. The proposal is currently under review by the Department of Finance, Office of the Solicitor General and the PPP Center.

The system seeks to integrate Passenger Name Record (PNR) data with Advance Passenger Information (API), enabling authorities to cross-reference travel-related information with existing records and other available data for border-security purposes.

CAISS is also designed to include automated border control with contactless facial recognition, biometric kiosks, criminal-record search capabilities and deception-detection tools.

Securiport said the proposed system will not replace existing government platforms or duplicate their functions. Instead, it is intended to enhance and connect existing capabilities to strengthen the country’s overall border-control and aviation-security framework.

With traveler data remaining in Philippine government data centers and subject to Philippine laws and safeguards, CAISS is being presented as an effort to strengthen national security while maintaining control over sensitive personal information.

The central assurance from Securiport is clear: stronger borders, but with Philippine traveler data staying under Philippine jurisdiction.