The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be implementing a biometric system in processing passengers in all airports in the country, which it said, is part of the modernization in the Philippine transport system.
DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the pilot implementation of the Biometrics Passenger Processing System will be at the Iloilo International Airport through a project based on the agreement with Ultrapass Identity Asia, Inc.
“The biometric system provides not only convenient passenger processing but also enhances security protocols. Embedded biometric data in passports will allow passengers to breeze through check-in, security, and boarding gates,” Bautista said.
He said the project will be implemented in two phases — Phase One will target Filipino passengers using the National DI through the PSA | DICT e-Verify system, of which the National ID database will verify the identity of the passengers. Phase Two, on the other hand, will include foreign passengers using their e-passports traveling domestically.
Bautista said the biometric system in the airports is a huge stride in the modernization of airport processes for passengers and operational enhancement.
He also thanked the US Government for its support in realizing the project, which he said, will revolutionize the country’s transport system.
Bautista earlier met with United States (US) Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago to discuss areas of cooperation as well as investment opportunities for US companies in Philippine transport projects.
Lago is leading a US delegation smart city trade mission in the Philippines.
During the meeting, he cited Chicago’s metro system that could possibly be a blueprint for future rail lines in the country.
Bautista, for his part, mentioned several key transport projects where US firms may be of interest such as the modernization of regional airports, big-ticket projects in railways such as the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System, Metro Manila Subway and Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Rail.