Calls for further improvements at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) emerged after a public official praised the new electronic immigration gates at the country’s main gateway.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday, December 16, posted a photo of the new e-gates at NAIA Terminal 3, crediting the corporation behind the initiative.
“Our airport now looks like a real airport. Thank you, San Miguel Corporation,” he wrote on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.
Our airport now looks like a real airport.
Thank you San Miguel Corporation. pic.twitter.com/i3jZrhnV3y
— Rex (@rex_gatchalian) December 16, 2025
His post has garnered 464,000 views, 1,500 likes, 313 reposts, and 71 replies, with some Filipinos using the thread to raise concerns about other areas of NAIA that could still be improved.
“Tiny screens, low ceilings, narrow halls, outdated interiors, ACs [airconditioners] that only seem to be on 50%, tired retail and food options. Parang hindi international airport,” an online user wrote.
“Gumana muna siya lahat sana,” another commented, referring to the newly-installed e-gates.
“Lol, not quite. Look at the ceiling and lighting, it’s giving bodega ng lumang supermarket,” a different Pinoy said.
“‘Di rin. Chaka pa rin. Hahahahahaha! ‘Yung mga ceilings, tiles, interior itself. Bulok!” another said.
“LOL. Also, the [Terminal 2] machines before you go in are SO F*CK*NG BAD AND HOLD UP THE LINE. Why couldn’t they use the same as the ones in MCIA?” another wrote, referring to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
“Same with their X-ray machines, where [you] need to take off your shoes. LOL, in MCIA, you don’t! Only if you get pinged,” the X user added.
Another X user who claimed to have used the e-gate already shared their experience.
“Ohhhh… still needs improvement tho… I arrived last Monday and it let me pass through habang naka-face mask ako and I am not even looking [at] the screen for a face verification… so paano???” the X user wrote.
NAIA has repeatedly been tagged as one of the world’s “worst airports,” with reports citing its dismal efficiency, subpar services and an overall unsatisfactory passenger experience that leaves travelers feeling more stressed than welcomed.
This recurring label has prompted the government to enter into partnerships with the private sector to upgrade infrastructure and modernize facilities.
Airports are often the first places visitors, especially foreign travelers, encounter, offering an initial impression of a destination’s image, including the quality of its services, amenities, and facilities.
The e-gates
Meanwhile, reports said the new e-gates at the airport are intended to provide travelers with a faster immigration process and a more comfortable travel experience.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said the system scans passports and uses facial recognition technology to reduce wait times for passengers.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also said that the new facilities made NAIA look like a “real airport.”
“It looks like the airports that we go through when we travel in other places and to finally see the airport at this – at least functioning like a modern airport. The importance is the multiplier effect of this efficiency is quite massive,” he said.
More facilities
Other improvements at the airport include the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) first-ever Transit Tours and Medical Concierge Area.
The Transit Tours offer passengers with long layovers a curated glimpse into Metro Manila’s rich culture and heritage. Two itineraries are available at USD $50 per person, inclusive of entrance fees and insurance coverage. These include a morning tour of Intramuros and the National Museum, and an afternoon tour featuring entertainment and shopping at Okada and Solaire in Pasay and Parañaque City.
Meanwhile, the Medical Concierge Area is designed to receive and assist patients with both efficiency and compassion. It provides personalized support to medical travelers from arrival to departure, connecting them with DOT-accredited wellness and tourism experiences tailored for post-treatment recovery and leisure, such as spa resorts, healing retreats, and cultural or shopping excursions.
There is also the new All-Filipino Food Hall and Mezzanine Food Hall in Terminal 3, which bring together local brands and regional dishes from across the Philippines, offering travelers a taste of Filipino flavors throughout the airport.
These food halls provide passengers with improved spaces to rest, dine, and reconnect while they recharge.
The All-Filipino Food Hall features 15 homegrown brands, while the Mezzanine Food Hall offers 17 standalone restaurants and cafés.
