DBM releases P1.3-B for e-gates for border control

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently released ₱1.3 billion for the implementation of the Electronic Gates (E-gates) Project at major airports and seaports across the country.

“The DBM released the budget allocation for the E-gates Project for 2025, amounting to ₱1.347 billion,” according to statement from Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

The project “modernizes and digitizes the primary inspection process at the country’s international gateways to further strengthen national security, improve efficiency, and elevate the overall experience of passengers while addressing issues of immigration congestion.”

E-gates are used as passport control systems using biometrics information such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning to verify identity of travelers.

According to Pangandaman, this is in pursuant to the President’s “directive of providing convenience to travelers, whether locals or foreign visitors, and reducing long queues at immigration counters.”

Pangandaman said that last year, DBM released ₱2 billion to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for the procurement of equipment for Phase 1 of the project.

“This will continue until Phase 3 in 2026. This year, we are already in Phase 2, and we are appealing to the BI to expedite the procurement process so that the E-gates Project can become fully operational as soon as possible,” Pangandaman said.

“Several existing e-gates are installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and will be expanded to other premier international gateways in the country,” the agency said.

It added that the expansion of the project would improve the “efficiency of security and immigration processes by catering to arriving and departing passengers, regardless of their citizenship.”

The project is expected to automate half of all manned inspection counters using modern technology.

The additional e-gates will be installed at NAIA Terminals I and III, Clark International Airport, Mactan Cebu International Airport, Davao International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Boracay-Caticlan International Airport, Zamboanga International Seaport, Laoag International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Puerto Princesa International Airport.

Target date for full implementation of operational e-gates is Dec. 15, 2025.