THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has conducted a dry run for eight additional electronic gates (eGates) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, ramping up efforts to modernize the country’s border control system.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado disclosed on Wednesday that the dry run began on May 5 as part of the Marcos administration’s push for faster, safer and more technology-driven immigration processing.
With the new rollout, the total number of operational eGates at NAIA Terminal 3 has climbed to 30, significantly boosting passenger processing capacity at one of the country’s busiest gateways.
Viado said the expansion is expected to cut waiting times and streamline immigration clearance for qualified travelers.
The BI chief clarified, though, that for now, eGate access is limited to passengers flying with airlines that comply with the Philippine government’s Advance Passenger Information (API) requirement.
Qualified users currently include arriving Filipino passengers and departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) traveling through API-compliant airlines.
Viado pointed out that API compliance is crucial because it allows authorities to conduct advanced passenger screening, enabling quicker and more secure immigration processing.
He added that nearly 90 percent of airlines operating in and out of the Philippines are already compliant with the API requirement.
The next phase of the program will include qualified foreign nationals once system expansion is completed.
All newly installed eGates, including those previously deployed, were provided by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. as part of the ongoing modernization partnership between the government and airport stakeholders.
Viado said the agency remains committed to transforming immigration services through digitalization and innovation.
“We are steadily advancing toward a more efficient and secure immigration system. The rollout of additional eGates is part of our broader effort to modernize processes not only at NAIA but also across other major international airports nationwide,” Viado said.
He also urged remaining airlines to comply with the API requirement so their passengers can benefit from faster, more convenient immigration clearance through the eGate system.
The BI is targeting full deployment of all planned eGates by this year, as it accelerates efforts to improve passenger experience while tightening border security.
