Just last month, President Marcos inspected the facilities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 and said that it is the nicest that he has seen the airport in 20 to 30 years.
Private firm New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) took over the management and operation of NAIA in September of last year from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). The privatization and signing of the concession agreement between the San Miguel Corp. (SMC)-led consortium and the Department of Transportation paved the way for the modernization of the country’s main gateway, with NNIC investing around P144 billion in the project.
The President assured the public that the government is finding ways and the best technology, including the rollout of electric or e-gates with facial recognition features to ease the processing of all airport users. And according to NNIC president Ramon Ang, these e-gates may be rolled out within six months.
The country’s chief executive said he expects more upgrades at NAIA that will make travel experience more comfortable for all passengers, including OFWs and tourists.
NNIC also intends to raise passenger capacity from 43 million to 62 million every year and air traffic movements from 42 to 48 per hour.
According to the President, he also inspected the immigration system to determine how it could be enhanced further.
Since taking over last September, NNIC has set its sights on improving efficiency and passenger experience and this is set to kick into full gear with the completion of Terminal 5 which will boost NAIA’s capacity. T5 would be connected to Terminal 2 and is expected to accommodate at least 30 million passengers yearly.
The group is also currently overseeing an upgrade of check-in and baggage handling equipment.
Airports all over the world are increasingly adopting smart technologies not only to enhance efficiency and improve passenger experience, but more importantly, to bolster security. This involve integrating various technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) devices, biometrics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to automate processes, streamline operations, and provide real-time information to passengers.
Facial recognition and other biometric technologies are being used at automated gates and checkpoints to speed up passenger processing and enhance security. Airports are also leveraging data collected from various sources to optimize resource allocation, predict passenger flow, and improve overall operational efficiency. CCTV cameras, facial recognition, and other surveillance technologies enable real-time monitoring of airport areas, enhancing security and preventing untoward incidents.
There are several reasons why many countries look to enable airports with technology in Southeast Asia, according to advisory firm YCP Group.
In terms of growth potential, the Southeast Asia aviation market is rapidly expanding, with passenger numbers expected to triple by 2037 from 2022 levels. Airports that embrace digital transformation and implement smart solutions can also gain a competitive advantage over others to offer a more efficient, convenient, and secure passenger experience. Smart airports can also automate many aspects of operation, reducing the need for manual labor and improving efficiency which could lead to cost savings and increased profitability. They can also use digital technology to speed up processes, reduce waiting times, and enhance security.
The Philippines’ border security needs to be improved. An airport modernization plan must include innovative border control solutions which ensure authorities’ effectiveness in processing passengers, addressing illicit activities in real-time, and tackling transnational crimes. With smart border technology, the national sovereignty of a country will be protected while keeping communities safe. And for that, we need more than just modern terminals - we need intelligent border systems.
Every day, individuals with unverified and unrecorded identities manage to enter our country. Some overstay, some engage in criminal operations, and others disappear without a trace. Our current immigration infrastructure and manpower are simply not equipped to anticipate and take on these challenges.
What we need are integrated systems that go beyond the airport lounge. These will include pre-arrival risk assessments using passenger data and international alerts, real-time biometric screening at all ports of entry, AI-driven behavioral analysis to flag suspicious travel patterns, and seamless coordination between immigration, law enforcement, and international databases.
These technologies already exist and are implemented in many parts of the world. It has been noted that many systems have become increasingly automated to enable computers to make preliminary determinations about possible threats and how authorities should respond. For instance, authorities can utilize video analytics with facial recognition and iris scans to assess the risk level of travelers.
According to the Global Governance Project, border-focused AI technologies use algorithms designed to evaluate travelers’ biometrics and these biometrics enable governments to analyze the data and ensure the identity of a traveler when verified. Data-driven biometric technologies help build the traveler’s profile and prepare authorities to manage any anomalies assessed prior to a traveler’s departure or arrival.
It emphasized that a sovereign country has the right and duty to protect its borders by blocking terrorists, illegal contraband, and human traffickers. Smart borders, it noted, present an opportunity for authorities to comprehensively process each traveler and when dealing with transnational travelers, each traveler must be verified by ensuring that passports, biometrics, and other documents are real and authenticated.
But then, smart borders also demand that governments must have the right data governance in place to protect the collected and analyzed data, it added.
Meanwhile, Bayometric in an article noted that border agencies are increasingly embracing new technologies that rely on the latest cutting-edge developments from the tech world. A survey has revealed that border agency leaders in Finland, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Norway, Singapore, the US and the UK have all declared support for the implementation of new technologies in patrolling and controlling their borders.
It is best for the Philippines to install these advanced border security technologies not only to process travelers efficiently, rapidly, and effectively but also to weed out undesirables.
Our seaports and provincial airports also need the same protection to make sure that all our ports of entry are smart and secure.
Smart borders will not only help to improve travel experience – they will also help prevent cross-border crimes and aid sovereign states amidst rising threats of terrorism and crimes such as human trafficking and money laundering.
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