THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for the replacement of outdated immigration counters with modern electronic gates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
By replacing the outdated systems, travelers passing through NAIA Terminal 1 can expect a significantly smoother experience by Christmas.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon conducted an inspection of the terminal yesterday morning to oversee the progress of this upgrade.
“‘Yung matagal na project ito na pinu-push natin,” Secretary Dizon explained. “Mahigit sampung taon na kasi itong mga e-gates natin ngayon. Marami sa kanila nasisira na at luma na ang technology.”
The primary goal is to replace half of the manual immigration counters with these new electronic gates by Christmas, a peak travel season.
This upgrade will benefit both arriving and departing passengers, an improvement as currently, e-gates are only available for arrivals.
“Majority ng international passengers galing sa NAIA,” he stated. “Goal is by Christmas, napalitan na natin ‘yung e-gates dito sa NAIA [and] ang e-gates ngayon, both arrival and departure na rin.”
The new system promises to significantly reduce queuing times, offering more efficient and less stressful experience for travelers, especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who frequent travel internationally.
“Bawas hassle… Ilang minuto na lang to… Sa ibang banda napakabilis… So malaking bagay to sa travel experience lalo na sa OFWs,” Dizon explained.
The electronic gates will also eliminate the need for face-to-face interactions with immigration officers, streamlining the process further.
The DOTr is working closely with the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) to ensure a seamless transition from the old to the news system.
This upgrade is expected to have a positive impact on tourism as well.
The inspections also focused on identifying areas for additional infrastructure to support the new e-gate system. (ABS-CBN News)
