only RP has no state-of-the-art passport system

[explorer]

SAYS DFA: In APEC, only RP has no state-of-the-art passport system

First posted 09:56pm (Mla time) Oct 21, 2005
By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net


AMONG the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, only the Philippines does not have a machine-readable passport believed crucial in tracking down terrorists and other international criminals.

Daniel Espiritu, foreign affairs undersecretary for international economic relations, said the Philippines has yet to comply with this APEC requirement.

“[APEC] recognizes that the major casualty of a terrorist attack is the economy,” said Daniel Espiritu, special assistant to Custodio. “The core activity is risk management.”

The APEC counter-terrorism framework includes discussions on the security of movement of people, goods, information, and capital.

A machine-readable passport, which falls under the movement of people category, facilitates the screening of “threat individuals” like terrorists, criminals, and even human traffickers.

But since APEC “is [a] voluntary” organization, Custodio said the agreements could not be forced upon its member economies. "The principal question is capability,” he said, adding that those capable of implementing the agreements are encouraged to do so. “Also, this is still a developing framework.”

Espiritu said the only disadvantage that a non-machine readable passport has is that it takes a little longer to check the authenticity of passports.

The International Police (Interpol) already provides countries with a watch list on stolen and fraudulent passports, he said.

APEC leaders are set to meet in Busan, South Korea in November.

Some of the anti-terror measures the leaders will discuss include security of maritime and aviation ports, use of anti-money laundering laws to stop the financing of terror groups, and protecting websites from cyberspace attacks.

The 21 APEC member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the United States.

[airshaq20]

Man, there are only 21 countries on APEC in which the Philippines is a member - so why the hell do our government join these kind of organizations when they even cant comply with this simple requirement. I think the Phil govt is paying up too many people with too many offices but they dont even do anything.

[boybi]

oo nga, pinas lang ang handwritten ang mga info sa passport

[explorer]

Man, there are only 21 countries on APEC in which the Philippines is a member - so why the hell do our government join these kind of organizations when they even cant comply with this simple requirement. I think the Phil govt is paying up too many people with too many offices but they dont even do anything.

why did our country join APEC? it's the biggest economic block/cooperation in the world. right now it's not fully rationalized, but our country badly need it (to be a member of that economic block) to be able to gain export markets for our products without much hassle on taxes and regulations among the member countries.

[RedHorse]

pag ginawang hi-tech, disadvantage yan kay garci!!! and gma et al

[kimpOy]

yup i just got home from our neighbor country....malayong malayo talaga tayo...

[empy]

maybe there are people who don't want these terrorists and international criminals caught....conspiracy!!

[WeaponX]

oo nga, pinas lang ang handwritten ang mga info sa passport

Pag computerized kasi, may mawawalan siguro ng trabaho.

[Mojo]

Meron tayo Modernization ng passport issuance system natin, kaso lang ang nanalo sa bidding during sa administration ni Erap is yung isang AMA group subsidiary ni Aguiluz, incidentally si aguiluz din ang head ng ICT during that time, talk about corruption.


Nun nag assume si Gloria, nakita anomalous ang contract, what do u expect, nanalo sa bidding is yung Company ng ICT head that time.

Nasa Courts ngayon ang Kaso, naka TRO, kasi pinapavoid pa ang contract, at hindi matutuloy ang programa.

Sisihin nyo ang AMA group of company

[hotwheels]

Dito Lang Sa Pinas Handwritten Ang Sulat Sa Paasport, When I Have Renew My Passport Abroad, It Is Typrwritten. The Dfa Here Should Practice Discipline And Improve Their Services.

[ozcity]

oo nga, pinas lang ang handwritten ang mga info sa passport

hindi ba mas ok ang handwritten para mas mahirap ma-forge?

[explorer]

Dito Lang Sa Pinas Handwritten Ang Sulat Sa Paasport, When I Have Renew My Passport Abroad, It Is Typrwritten. The Dfa Here Should Practice Discipline And Improve Their Services.

it's not true. here in UK, my wife renewed her passport and it's still handwritten.

[explorer]

hindi ba mas ok ang handwritten para mas mahirap ma-forge?

you mean...mahirap i-forge yung handwriting ng taga DFA? eh kung meron gumawa ng fake passport at handwritten din, may makapagsabi ba na fake yung handwriting?

[j_avonni]

Baka mas state-of-the-art pa ang fake Philippine passports.

[chua_riwap]

Yung plastic cover ng passport natin ang daling mabakbak! Nadale ako minsan sa Inchon Airport (S.Korea). Yun kasing plastic kasi, medyo baklas na. Akala nung immigration officer, pinalitan yung picture ko. Kaya ayun, na-hold pa ako sa immigration, para akong kriminal sa interrogation nila, in front of other incoming passengers.

[wildthing]

This is OT na siguro:

sir duty mo rin to ensure the integrity ng passport mo...you can't blame them immediately kasi ikaw ang user ng passport....you can have your passport replaced on the consul office of the philippines in the country you are in ANYTIME lalo na pagmeron ganyan issue....hindi ka sana nahold.

Aren't we were already an APEC member since more than 20 years ago (marcos regime)?!?

Huwag na kayong magtaka...wala pa naman umupo sa trono ng pagiging presidente ng pilipinas na talagang deserving at huwaran mag-decide para sa ikabubuti ng bansa natin ah?...Ang tanong dyan e sinu ba ang mga bumuboto sa mga iyan?!?

[chua_riwap]

This is OT na siguro:

sir duty mo rin to ensure the integrity ng passport mo...you can't blame them immediately kasi ikaw ang user ng passport....you can have your passport replaced on the consul office of the philippines in the country you are in ANYTIME lalo na pagmeron ganyan issue....hindi ka sana nahold.

Nung una kasi, may crack lang yung gilid ng picture ko. Then, yun nang immigration officer ang nagtuklap.

Sa mga ibang destinations na napuntahan ko, wala naman problema. Sa Korea lang ako natiyempuhan.

[newarkguy]

guys, OT ito pero pano ba pagnawala ang passport? anong steps ang gagawin? nawala kasi ng brother ko sa pinas ang passport nya....

[qman]

haha

hand written nga ang passport natin pero ang immigration counter sa NAIA me reader machien ng computerized passport para sa mga tourist na computerized na ang kanilang passport.

[oldblue]

better late than never. ano na ba measures ng govt ngaun to make it state of the art?