BI supports DOTr push for wider e-gates in NAIA

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The Bureau of Immigration (BI) supported the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) proposal to expand the use of electronic immigration gates (e-gates) across Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to speed up passenger clearance and reduce the necessity of immigration interviews.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon previously said that he is eyeing recommending the wider use of e-gates, allowing them to be utilized by all passengers departing from and arriving in the Philippines.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said this proposal aligns with the bureau's modernization agenda and efforts to reduce queues, speed up passenger processing, and strengthen border security, while fulfilling its mandate to combat human trafficking and other cross-border crimes.

E-gates enable passengers who have been cleared by automated screening to skip routine face-to-face immigration interviews. Therefore, only those flagged by the system or requiring further assessment will be subjected to examination by immigration officers.

At present, only outbound foreigners and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are allowed to use the e-gates, requiring other departing Filipinos to still undergo immigration interviews.

Meanwhile, for arriving passengers, only Filipinos are currently allowed to use the e-gates.

“Technology should allow us to process legitimate travelers faster while enabling our officers to focus on passengers who require closer scrutiny,” Viado 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 added.

The bureau said it has been expanding and upgrading e-gates in international airports outside Metro Manila, with the first phase already completed in Clark, Cebu, and Davao.

An added security feature at the gates is the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), a software that enhances biometric identification and verification capabilities to detect multiple-passport holders and other fraudulent activity.

The bureau said the integration of ABIS into e-gates will help authorities to identify passengers who may pose immigration or security risks while also ensuring faster clearance for legitimate travelers.

Procurement is still ongoing for the second phase of the program, which will cover other provincial international ports.

A livestreamed bidding will likewise be implemented, similar to the first phase, according to the BI. --VAL, GMA News