When the management of Ninoy Aquino International Airport revised its parking rates last year, it (understandably) had jaws crashing to the floor in disbelief. It continues to be a bitter pill that people must reluctantly swallow. But now, the country’s main international gateway has something that just might minimize that awful taste.

The airport’s car parks will now be equipped with automated barriers. Simply drive up to the entrance and get a ticket. We can only assume that fees need to be settled at dedicated payment booths before customers can leave. A QR code, which we suspect is printed on the ticket, will open the exit gates.

Terminal 3—which most international flights use—got dibs on the system last March 1. Terminals 1 and 2 will get their smart barriers on March 14. This date will also see electronic payments being accepted as only cash transactions are currently allowed. Automatic payment kiosks across all terminals will come online in July.

NAIA operator New NAIA Infra Corporation maintains that the elevated parking fees are not for profit. But these automated barriers are anything but cheap, and whoever footed the bill for them would want to recoup the cost in record time.