BI to deploy more e-gates in airports outside NCR by 2026

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will upgrade and roll out its biometric immigration electronic gates (e-gates) in other international airports outside of Metro Manila next year to strengthen border control and passenger facilitation.

In a statement on Tuesday, BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI has formally entered into an agreement for the procurement of the upgraded e-gates.

The project is part of the BI’s efforts towards modernization, efficiency, and secure yet traveler-friendly border management.

Further details on the deployment schedule and covered airports will be announced as implementation moves forward in 2026.

Viado said the upgrade and expansion of the e-gates is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize government services.

“This expansion of e-gates is a concrete step toward building a faster, smarter, and more secure immigration system that supports economic growth while safeguarding our borders, in line with the Bagong Pilipinas envisioned by the President,” Viado said.

The e-gates expansion and upgrade project will replace and enhance existing facilities to significantly improve passengers' experience at international ports of entry and exit.

At present, the e-gates are being activated in phases at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to improve passenger processing.

The new system will implement the latest technologies and security measures, including the integration of Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS), to further digitalize and streamline immigration clearance processes.

“With the aid of advanced technology, our immigration officers are able to perform mission-critical functions more effectively. Automation allows us to focus our personnel on higher-level assessment and enforcement, while routine processing becomes faster and more accurate,” Viado said.

He added that the upgraded e-gates will help reduce queues, decongest immigration areas, and shorten processing time, resulting in fewer steps for travelers and improved operational efficiency.

The BI stressed that the expansion of the e-gates in international airports outside Metro Manila will ensure that modernization is inclusive and nationwide, allowing regional international airports to meet global standards in border control and passenger facilitation.

“This project reflects our commitment to equitable development and responsive governance. Modern borders are a hallmark of a modern nation. Through Bagong Immigration, we are helping build the Bagong Pilipinas – one that is efficient, secure, and ready for the future,” Viado added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News