As part of ongoing efforts to turn the nation’s main gateway into a world-class facility, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday inaugurated upgraded amenities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, including biometric immigration gates that can process passengers in as little as 20 seconds.
The launch’s main event was the progressive installation of 78 biometric e-gates throughout NAIA, of which 42 are currently in use in the arrival section of Terminal 3. During moments of high travel demand, the system—powered by international travel technology company Amadeus—uses passport scanning and face recognition to expedite immigration processing.
It now takes as little as 20 seconds for passengers to clear. During his statement at the terminal, Marcos stated, “Not 20 minutes, 20 seconds—with further improvements expected as the system continues to learn and begins to stabilize.”
Increased VIP Services And Dining
In order to improve passenger comfort, the President also unveiled two new dining halls. The 6,200-square-meter All-Filipino “Tambayan” Food Hall can hold up to 2,000 people and has 17 in-house brands that serve local Filipino food. There are 22 eateries and cafés in the Mezzanine Food Hall, which can accommodate 600 people.
According to Marcos, the Filipino ideals of “warmth, respect, and hospitality” are reflected in the newly opened 200-square-meter Dignitaries Lounge, which can accommodate up to 61 distinguished visitors.
Initiatives In Tourism
Marcos started the Department of Tourism’s Transit Tour program, which offers carefully planned four-hour trips costing USD 50 to foreign travelers from visa-free nations with layovers of at least eight hours to see Manila. A “Cultural and Heritage Experience” that includes Intramuros and the National Museum or a “Leisure and Entertainment Experience” that includes Okada Manila and Solaire Resort are the options available to tourists.
Additionally, the President opened a Medical Tourism Concierge Area with partner hospitals Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center, and The Medical City to help patients traveling to the Philippines for medical procedures.
Marcos attributed the single-day record of 92 percent on-time performance to operational improvements made by New NAIA Infra Corp. under the leadership of President Ramon Ang. With a passenger satisfaction rating of 4.06 out of 5, the airport has earned its first Airports Council International customer experience accreditation.
With 2.5 million passengers anticipated between December 20, 2025, and January 4, 2026, NAIA is getting ready for the Christmas rush.