AIRLINES are now required to provide the Bureau of Immigration (BI) with passenger information ahead of flight arrivals in the country.This after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 122 which mandates the adoption and implementation of an Advance Passenger Information or API system to strengthen border control.According to the order, the data that should be transmitted to the BI include flight details such as flight number and time of arrival and departure; and passenger and crew information including name, birth date, gender, citizenship, and travel documents.“The captain, master or agent, or owner of a commercial carrier whose vessel or aircraft is arriving in or departing from any port within the Philippine territory, shall provide the BI the API of its passengers, and those of the crew and non-crew members.”According to the order, the API shall serve as initial security vetting of passengers, crew and non-crew members to facilitate and expedite the arrival and departure process of legitimate travelers during primary inspection.The order mandates the BI to perform security vetting or information verification of the passengers after receipt of the API.
