Immigration Bureau completes Phase 1 of e-Gate expansion at Clark, Cebu and Davao airports — also backs proposal to extend to NAIA

Immigration Bureau completes Phase 1 of e-Gate expansion at Clark, Cebu and Davao airports — also backs proposal to extend to NAIA

📌 On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it has completed Phase 1 of the expansion and upgrade of electronic immigration gates (e-Gates) at Clark, Cebu and Davao international airports. It also said it supports Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon's proposal to open e-Gates to all arriving and departing passengers at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

■ What's changing
· Phase 1 includes an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) that verifies identity using biometric data and screens out fraud cases, such as people holding passports from multiple countries.
· Passengers who pass the automated check go through without a face-to-face inspection, and only passengers flagged by the system are checked separately by an immigration officer.
· Phase 2 is currently in the bidding process and is planned to extend to other international airports and ports in the provinces. No completion date has been given.
· According to GMA's report, at present only foreigners and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can use the e-Gates on departure, and only Filipinos on arrival. The timing and number of units for the NAIA expansion have not been announced.
· BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said, "To expand the use of e-Gates, reliable biometric verification and effective security screening must go hand in hand."

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· If you are not eligible to use the e-Gates, you will go through face-to-face inspection with an immigration officer as you do now. Check the airport's guidance before departure.
· Even if you use an e-Gate, if the system flags you for additional verification, you will be directed to an immigration officer.

■ Sources
Philippine Bureau of Immigration (11/7), GMA (11/7), DZRH (11/7), Daily Tribune (11/7)

■ Photos
· 1. BI e-Gate announcement graphic (airport e-Gate) — Philippine Bureau of Immigration
· 2. File photo · e-Gate for immigration at NAIA — DZRH
· 3. File photo · NAIA Terminal 3 departure hall crowded with passengers — GMA
· 4. File photo · Exterior of Ninoy Aquino International Airport at night — Daily Tribune