MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expressed support for the proposed expansion of electronic immigration gates (e-Gates) to cover all arriving and departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), saying the move aligns with its continuing efforts to modernize immigration services and improve border security.
The proposal was raised by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon as part of efforts to make passenger processing faster and more efficient at the country’s primary international gateway.
The BI said expanding automated immigration facilities would help reduce long queues, shorten processing time and allow immigration personnel to concentrate on passengers who require closer inspection.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado explained that travelers who successfully pass automated screening may use the e-Gates without undergoing the usual face-to-face interview with immigration officers.
However, passengers flagged by the system or identified as needing additional verification will still be referred to immigration officers for further examination.
“Technology should allow us to process legitimate travelers faster while enabling our officers to focus on passengers who require closer scrutiny,” Viado said.
He stressed that broader access to automated gates must be supported by dependable biometric verification and effective security measures to ensure that faster processing does not compromise border protection.
The BI is also pursuing the expansion and upgrading of e-Gates in international airports outside Metro Manila under its modernization program.
The first phase of the project, which covered major provincial gateways such as Clark, Cebu and Davao, has already been completed.
An important component of the procurement is the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), a specialized technology designed to improve biometric identification and verification. The system can help detect individuals holding passports under multiple nationalities, as well as other forms of identity and travel document fraud.
Once integrated into the e-Gates, ABIS is expected to provide immigration authorities with an additional security layer to identify individuals who may pose immigration or security threats while allowing legitimate travelers to clear immigration more quickly.
To ensure transparency, the BI livestreamed the procurement proceedings for the first phase through its official Facebook page.
The second phase is now undergoing procurement and will involve the installation and expansion of e-Gates in additional international airports across the provinces. The BI said the bidding process for this phase will likewise be livestreamed.
