MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expressed support on Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon’s proposal to expand the use of electronic immigration gates (e-Gates) to all arriving and departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The move was consistent with its own push to broaden automated passenger processing at the country's international gateways, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said on Saturday.
Viado said the initiative forms part of the bureau’s efforts to reduce queues, speed up passenger processing, strengthen border security, and advance its mandate to combat human trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
“It also aligns with the bureau's modernization agenda and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to digitalize government services, streamline transactions, and improve public service delivery,” the BI chief said.
Under the system, passengers who clear automated screening may proceed through the e-Gates without undergoing routine face-to-face immigration interviews. Those flagged by the system or requiring further assessment, however, will remain subject to examination by immigration officers, BI said.
"Technology should allow us to process legitimate travelers faster while enabling our officers to focus on passengers who require closer scrutiny,” the top BI official said.
“Wider e-Gate access must go hand in hand with reliable biometric verification and effective security checks. Our objective is not only to reduce queues but also to make immigration screening faster, smarter, and more secure," he stressed.
As part of its modernization program, Viado said the BI was also expanding and upgrading e-Gates at international airports outside Metro Manila to improve passenger processing and strengthen border security.
The first phase, covering key provincial gateways including Clark, Cebu, and Davao, has been completed, he said.
The procurement includes an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), specialized software that enhances biometric identification and verification capabilities to detect multiple-nationality passport holders and other frauds.
Its integration into the e-Gates will provide an additional layer of border security by helping immigration authorities identify individuals who may pose immigration or security risks while facilitating faster clearance for legitimate travelers, according to the immigration bureau.
The second phase is currently undergoing procurement and will cover the further expansion of e-Gates to other international ports in the provinces, said Viado as he added that the agency would livestream the bidding process for this phase.
