Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is set to implement facial recognition-enabled electronic gates within the next six months.
This cutting-edge upgrade is part of the sweeping improvements planned for NAIA under the new administration and its private operator, New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC). The biometric e-gates aim to cut down on long lines and reduce the need for manual checks during immigration processes — a move that could redefine how Filipino and international travellers experience the country’s main gateway.
“We’re trying to make life easier for them — mabilis nga, hindi na sila hinahanapan ng kung ano-anong ID,” said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a site inspection at NAIA Terminal 3 on June 3. His remarks echo the government’s broader push for digital transformation and efficiency in public services.
NNIC Chairman Ramon Ang confirmed in an interview with ABS-CBN News that the facial recognition system will be rolled out in about six months. “It’s at no cost to the Philippine government and no additional cost to the public, to the traveling passenger,” Ang emphasized.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is still finalizing how many of these high-tech gates will be deployed, but Terminals 1 and 3 are identified as top priorities. These new gates will serve both arriving and departing passengers, removing the need for passport checks and streamlining immigration procedures significantly.
As air travel rebounds and NAIA sees more passengers returning post-pandemic, this innovation marks a significant step toward a faster, safer, and smarter travel experience for all.
