THE Philippines declared its support for fighting transnational crime during the 29th Asean Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The Philippine delegation was led by Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
The annual event aims to strengthen regional cooperation against transnational crime, illegal migration and other cross-border threats while promoting safer and more efficient travel.
Among the issues tackled this year were transnational criminal activities, irregular migration, human smuggling and the growing impact of technological developments on immigration operations.
The Philippines highlighted during the discussions efforts to modernize immigration services and reinforce border control systems through technology-driven initiatives.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Asean member states through enhanced information-sharing mechanisms, capacity-building programs and coordinated security responses.
Viado stressed that increasingly complex migration patterns and sophisticated criminal networks require stronger regional collaboration.
“As migration patterns become more complex and criminal networks operate across borders, no country can address these challenges alone,” he said, noting the Philippines remains committed to working closely with its Asean partners to develop smarter and more resilient immigration systems capable of protecting borders while facilitating legitimate travel, tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Viado reported on the BI’s long-term goal of becoming a S.M.A.R.T. immigration authority by 2040 — sustainable, modernized, adaptive, resilient and trusted.
“The future of immigration lies in balancing security with mobility,” Viado said, adding that the responsible use of technology, transparency, accountability and respect for human rights will help ensure secure and efficient borders across an increasingly interconnected Asean region.