The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing to replace outdated immigration counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with state-of-the-art electronic gates, aiming for a smoother experience for travelers by the upcoming Christmas season.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, who personally inspected NAIA Terminal 1 on Friday, emphasized the urgent need for modernization. “Yung matagal na project ito na pinu-push natin,” Dizon was quoted as saying by ABS-CBN News report. “Mahigit sampung taon na kasi itong mga e-gates natin ngayon. Marami sa kanila nasisira na at luma na ang technology.”
The planned upgrade will replace half of the manual immigration counters with electronic gates, which will be available for both arriving and departing passengers—an improvement from the current setup, where e-gates are limited to arrivals.
“Goal is by Christmas, napalitan na natin yung e-gates dito sa NAIA [and] ang e-gates ngayon, both arrival and departure na rin,” Dizon stated.
These modern e-gates are expected to significantly reduce queuing times and streamline the immigration process. For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and frequent travelers, this means less hassle. “Bawas hassle… Ilang minuto na lang to… Sa ibang banda napakabilis,” Dizon added.
The DOTr is coordinating with the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) to ensure a smooth transition from the old system. The upgrade is also part of efforts to enhance the country’s tourism appeal. “Napakagandang balita nito sa tourist natin… Yun ang goal natin, gawing world class ang immigration experience ng both tourist and kababayan,” Dizon said.
