NAIA to implement facial recognition technology before Christmas
NAIA is set to implement facial recognition technology in a bid to reduce queues and eliminate the need for passports and identification cards.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, the technology enables quick access to services at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through facial features, doing away with multiple forms of identification or documents. Its intended main beneficiaries are the overseas Filipino workers passing through immigration.
It's expected to be rolled out before Christmas.
“Soon, malapit na, iyong mukha na lang nila ayun na,” President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said.
“Hindi na kailangan bumunot ng passport. Soon, magkakaroon na tayo niyan,” he added. “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, na mabilis na hindi sila hinahanapan ng ID."
Aside from facial recognition technology, Marcos said there will be other upgrades at NAIA, like relocating hired vehicles and taxis underground to reduce congestion.
He also took note of the ongoing work at the airport, which has been taken over by New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation in September 2024.
“This is the nicest I’ve seen the airport in 20-30 years. So, let’s keep doing it,” Marcos added.
In 2024, NAIA was ranked the worst airport in the world in the analysis of the Australian firm Compare the Market. According to The Philippine STAR, it scored 0.24 on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
Under the same scale, NAIA was given a 6.6 for efficiency, 6.6 for accessibility, 6.1 for service, and 6.8 for cleanliness.
