Aviation and airport security authorities are mulling the removal of the initial screening sections at major airports in the country for the convenience of air travelers.
The idea was broached after officials of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) met and discussed initiatives to improve security of outlying airports under the supervision of the CAAP.
OTS administrator Undersecretary Ma.O Aplasca sees the “need for enhanced compliance to the National Civil Aviation Security Program requirements which calls for the submission of an Airport Security Program to improve the overall security status of the airports.”
“With this, the OTS is working closely with airport operators to assist them in crafting their respective programs through the Model Airport Security Program. This shall facilitate a faster and efficient mode of adopting security standards and recommended practices in safeguarding passengers and the airport facilities,” Aplasca said.
The OTS and the CAAP also discussed matters pertaining to the training and certification of CAAP instructors, as well as plans to remove the initial security screening checkpoints based on risk assessment, to streamline processes and make travel more seamless for passengers, in line with the guidance of Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
The planned removal of the initial security screening checkpoints were tested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Among those who attended the meeting were CAAP security and intelligence services (CSIS) assistant director General Ricardo Banayat, chief of security division Ernesto Milo, and technical assistant Paulo John Villar, along with other personnel from the CSIS.
Also present were OTS deputy administrator Assistant Secretary Nixon Fortes, transport security accreditation and training management service director Michael Africa, legal service officer-in-charge director Karen Lim, transport security oversight and compliance service acting chief director Rodelio Jocson, head executive assistant Eugenio Paguirigan, accreditation and certification division chief Josephine De Ocampo, training and program development officer-in charge Cecilia Bona, civil aviation security division (CASD) head Judith Rendon and other personnel from the Policy Formulation and Development Division and CASD.
