MANILA, Philippines- Magkasamang naglunsad ang Pilipinas at United Nations (UN) ng advanced information system na naglalayong palakasin ang border security ng bansa para labanan ang transnational crime at terorismo.
Sinabi ni Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez na ang Advanced Passenger Information System ng Pilipnas, pinagana ng UN GoTravel software, magbibigay-daan sa mas malakas na border control, mas mabuti na intelligence sharing, at mas higit pa sa proactive approach sa national security.
“With this system in place, we reduce the risk of threats seeping through our immigration controls,” ang sinabi ni Vasquez, binasa ang mensahe ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“We also prevent travel document fraud, strengthen risk assessments, and ensure that our security agencies have the tools to act swiftly and effectively,” dagdag niya.
Samantala, sinabi pa ng opisyal na ang inisyatiba ay resulta ng pagtutulungan sa pagitan ng Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, Anti-Terrorism Council na may suporta ng United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), at Government of Australia.
Sa kabilang dako, inihayag ni UNOCT Chief of Section Christine Bradley na ang GoTravel ay “fully integrated with the International Criminal Police Organization’s nominals and stolen lost travel database.”
Winika pa nito na sa paglulunsad, ang Pilipinas ang unang bansa sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations na nag- deploy gamit ang GoTravel.
“You’re also the very first country here across the ASEAN region to fully operationalize the Go Travel solution. Cebu Pacific and the Philippines Airlines are connected. We have other airlines that will shortly follow,” ayon kay Bradley.
Binigyang-diin naman ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin na ang pagpapahusay sa border security ay hindi lamang para ipatigil ang banta bago pa sila dumating.
“It is about building a system of trust and cooperation that allows us to work seamlessly with our partners at home and abroad. The world we live in today is deeply interconnected. Threats do not stop at national borders and neither should our efforts to combat them,” ang sinabi ni Bradley.
Samantala, dumalo sa event sina UN Resident Coordinated Arnaud Peral, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, at Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado. Kris Jose
