THE Philippines is looking to implement passenger biometrics to speed up airport processing and create a smoother travel experience, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Sector Roberto Lim said biometrics processing will be done from the airport’s entry up to boarding.
“The future is now… biometrics passenger processing will significantly make the Philippine airport experience more pleasant, more efficient,” Lim said in a statement.
A single token created from the passenger’s biometric facial scan, the boarding pass and a biometric data embedded ID such as passport will allow a passenger to breeze through airport entrance, check in, final boarding pass check to airside, and boarding, Lim said.
DOTr said airport operators such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Davao International Airport Authority are looking into a pilot operation as local stakeholders await the implementation of the process and technology in action, while preparing to further improve passenger comfort, accessibility and
security through departure process.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista earlier said the agency will allocate P14-billion to develop and modernize regional airports throughout the country.
“A P14-billion airport improvement budget for 2024 will benefit airports nationwide,” Bautista said.
He said the allocation is for the improvement projects for
Catbalogan, Tacloban, Laoag, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, lloilo airports, along with 16 other airports nationwide.
Many airports are being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme with financial support from the Asian Develoment Bank and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, Secretary Bautista revealed.
The secretary also said airports in Bohol, Siargao, Bacolod-Silay, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, and Iloilo will be developed under the PPP arrangement.