BI urges Pinoy holidaymakers to use e-gates in PHL airports

Tired of long queues at the immigration counter? As the holiday rush looms, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) encouraged Filipino passengers to use the electronic gates in airports for a hassle-free passport processing experience.

"We are targeting to ease the lines during the peak season, as we are expecting an influx of balikbayans and OFWs who will come home during the holidays," BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

"We want to provide better service for them hence this improvement. It will be our Christmas gift for the traveling Filipinos," he added.

According to BI, 18 electronic gates are now open in three international airports in the country.

Thirteen of these are available at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1, 2, and 3 in Manila.

The first five e-gates were introduced to Philippine passport holders at Terminal 3 last July.

Three e-gates were installed in Mactan airport in Cebu while two e-gates were operational at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao.

The processing time of e-gates for each passenger only takes eight to 15 seconds.

The user's personal information will be read by just tapping the passport on the machine. Fingerprint scanning and picture taking will follow.

The passenger will be allowed to pass through the e-gate once cleared.

The immigration bureau added that it targets to make three e-gates operational at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga by December. —Dona Magsino