Philippines proposes expanded e-gate access at NAIA

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has proposed expanding the use of electronic immigration gates (e-gates) to all arriving and departing passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The initiative aims to reduce passenger queues and streamline processing by allowing travelers cleared by the system to bypass routine face-to-face interviews.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) supports the proposal, stating it aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to digitalize government services. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado noted that while automated screening will speed up processing for legitimate travelers, individuals flagged by the system or requiring further assessment will still undergo examination by immigration officers.

To support this modernization, the BI is also upgrading e-gates in provincial gateways such as Clark, Cebu, and Davao. This includes the procurement of an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) designed to enhance verification capabilities and detect fraud, such as multiple nationality passport holders.