President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed profound excitement for the imminent implementation of state-of-the-art facial recognition technology at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a transformative initiative poised to significantly streamline and enhance the travel journey, particularly for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Expected to be fully operational before Christmas, this advanced system will empower travelers, especially the nation’s invaluable OFWs, to clear immigration by simply using their facial features, thereby eliminating the need for physical passports and traditional identification cards.
During a media interview following his inspection of NAIA Terminal 3, President Marcos shared his profound enthusiasm for this pivotal step in modernizing the country’s premier airport facilities. “Soon, very soon, their faces will be all they need,” he stated, underscoring how this innovation will dramatically expedite and simplify the immigration process for returning OFWs and all other passengers.
The Chief Executive further emphasized that the measure would significantly reduce the inconvenience of carrying multiple documents. “They won’t need to pull out their passport anymore. Soon, we will have that,” he affirmed, highlighting the unparalleled convenience the new system promises.
President Marcos stressed that the facial recognition system directly aligns with his administration’s unwavering commitment to improving the travel experience for OFWs. “They have facilities now that they didn’t have before. But more importantly, I think, in the facilities, if you’re trying to make life easier for them, it’s faster, and they aren’t being asked for IDs,” he explained. This groundbreaking system will enable OFWs to swiftly access services without the prior requirement of presenting various forms of identification or documents.
This cutting-edge technology is a cornerstone of a larger modernization effort being undertaken through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which is funding the comprehensive upgrade of NAIA. President Marcos proudly noted that this project represents the most substantial and rapidly executed PPP the country has ever witnessed. “This is the biggest PPP that the country has ever done. And by the way, this is the fastest that we were able to do because it was — I pushed it very, very hard,” he declared.
In addition to the revolutionary facial recognition system, President Marcos also highlighted other significant upgrades, including the successful relocation of hired vehicles and taxis underground to alleviate congestion. “The system for vehicles, including hired cars and taxis, has already been moved underground, improving the overall traffic flow,” he shared.
Concluding his remarks, the President acknowledged the continuous improvements at the airport. “This is the nicest I’ve seen the airport in 20-30 years. So, let’s keep doing it,” he said, reiterating his steadfast dedication to providing world-class services for all travelers, both domestic and international.
