DAVAO CITY — Thirty-six officers from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently underwent specialized training in impostor detection conducted by experts from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Davao City.
According to Philippines News Agency, the training held on June 27 at Davao International Airport was crucial for enhancing the Philippines' border management capabilities. Greg Fiddy, CBSA International Network Manager for Asia-Pacific South, and Lisa Harding, CBSA Temporary Duty Liaison Officer, led the session, which was aimed at improving the skills of BI officers in detecting fraudulent travel and assessing passengers more effectively.
"The expertise shared by the CBSA will help our officers better detect impostors and assess passengers effectively," Tansingco stated, highlighting the practical techniques covered during the session. These methods are expected to significantly strengthen the country's border security.
Tansingco also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in border security efforts. "Our collaboration with the CBSA demonstrates the importance of global partnerships in enhancing border management," he remarked, appreciating the contributions of the Canadian government.
Additionally, on June 5, the BI enhanced its international cooperation efforts by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government. The agreement focuses on migration management and border control and is part of the Philippines-Australia Plan of Action 2023-2026, following a strategic partnership declaration signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"Our collaboration will help deter terrorist movements, combat people smuggling, and address transnational crimes," Tansingco explained, underscoring the broader context of the Philippines' efforts in international security cooperation.