By Ferdinand G. Patinio
Manila, (PNA) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to implement its P84-million automation project involving the procurement of new computers, biometrics equipment and other state-of-the-art devices to modernize operations at the international airports and improve its services to the traveling public.
This after BI Officer-in-Charge Siegfred Mison disclosed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has already approved, among others, the bureau’s proposed Biometrics Project which will be implemented in all international airports nationwide including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The project involves the purchase of 220 units of passport readers, 200 units of workstations, 440 fingerprint scanners, 350 high definition webcams, and ten document scanners.
Mison said the bureau will initially procure 220 passport readers with an estimated cost of P44 million, or P200,000 each, to replace existing units that were bought four years ago at P457,000 each.
Under the Commission on Audit (COA) rules, passport readers in the airports which were bought in 2008 have a life span of four years, hence the need to replace them.
The BI chief noted that computers in BI counters at the airports also need to be replaced to address past occurrences of glitches in these equipment that have inconvenienced many passengers.
“We appeal to the traveling public to bear with us for any inconvenience,” Mison said.
He also promised the immediate completion of the project in time for the expected influx of passengers this Christmas.
Mison reported that since 2012 BI computers at the NAIA experienced “downtimes” at least 15 times, lasting for several minutes, that led to long queues leading to manual processing of passengers at the immigration counters.
It was learned that aside from the equipment procured by the BI, the agency has received or will receive 10 units of passport readers from the Philippine Airlines; 15 workstations from the Clark International Airport Authority; and six passport readers courtesy of Senate President Franklin Drilon.