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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider Gov't invests ₱1.3 billion in biometric e-gates to strengthen border control

Gov't invests ₱1.3 billion in biometric e-gates to strengthen border control

Published Jun 10, 2025 09:30 am  |  Updated Jun 10, 2025 01:21 pm
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of ₱1.3 billion to support the ongoing implementation of the Electronic Gates (E-gates) Project in major international gateways across the country.

“The DBM already released the budget allocation for the E-gates Project for 2025, amounting to ₱1.347 billion,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said in a statement released on Tuesday, June 10.

As per the DBM, the project “modernizes and digitizes the primary inspection process at the country’s international gateways to further strengthen national security, improve efficiency, and elevate the overall experience of passengers while addressing issues of immigration congestion.”

E-gates are automated passport control systems that use biometric technology, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, to verify the identity of travelers.

According to Pangandaman, this action was in line with the President’s “directive of providing convenience to travelers, whether locals or foreign visitors, and reducing long queues at immigration counters.”

Pangandaman said that last year, the DBM was able to release ₱2 billion to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for the procurement of equipment for Phase 1 of the project..

“This will continue until Phase 3 in 2026. This year, we are already in Phase 2, and we are appealing to the BI to expedite the procurement process so that the E-gates Project can become fully operational as soon as possible,” Pangandaman further said.

“Several existing e-gates were installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and will be expanded to other premier international gateways in the country,” the agency said.

It added that the expansion of the project would improve the “efficiency of security and immigration processes by catering to arriving and departing passengers, regardless of their citizenship.”

Also, the project is expected to automate half of all manned inspection counters using modern technology.

Based on the project's modernization plan, e-gates will be installed in key airports and one seaport across the country, with funding allocated accordingly. These include NAIA Terminals I and III, Clark International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport, Davao International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Boracay-Caticlan International Airport, Zamboanga International Seaport, Laoag International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, and Puerto Princesa International Airport.

The target date for the full implementation of operational e-gates is on or before Dec. 15, 2025.

Related Tags

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
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