E-gates to open before holiday rush

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will launch its electronic gates (e-gates) at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before Christmas to hasten processing and to reduce passenger queues at immigration counters at the country’s premiere port during the holiday rush.

According to Grifton Medina, BI-Port Operation Division chief, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente has already signed a memorandum of agreement with the service provider for the pilot testing of the e-gates, initially installed at the NAIA 2 immigration departure area.

Medina said the e-gate system was implemented last year in the immigration arrival areas of three terminals of NAIA, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Davao International Airport and Clark International Airport.

He added that the implementation of this project was successful wherein the long queues at immigration counters were lessened.

“We are optimistic that the same success will be replicated when the scheme becomes fully operational in our airports’ immigration departure areas,” Morente said.

The BI chief added that as in the case of e-gates installed at the immigration arrival areas, the new lanes shall cater only to departing overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in order to ensure smoother and faster processing for these travelers in recognition of their contributions to the country’s economic development.

“We also thank President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Go for their support in this project. The welfare of our OFW is always their top priority and concern,” he said.