TSA report prompts MIAA to boost airport security

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) which supervises Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the country’s main gateway, said on Friday that it would beef up security measures based on an assessment conducted by the Transport Security Administration (TSA).

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said his agency was “strongly committed to enhancing airport security” and ready to work with their American counterparts “to boost security measures for the protection of passengers.”

The TSA is an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security tasked to protect American transportation systems.

No details

Monreal did not disclose the details of the report based on the assessment of Naia conducted by TSA from Sept. 26 to Dec. 5.

He only said the US agency made “observations regarding procedures, processes, equipment and personnel posting at Naia.”

As part of “implemented measures to rectify and make improvements on security issues that were identified,” MIAA, the Office of the Transport Security (OTS) and newly hired airport personnel implementing security control would be required to undergo new background checks under the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and other agencies.

MIAA access pass holders, on the other hand, would need to be cleared again by the National Bureau of Investigation.

The OTS is an agency under the Department of Transportation.

As the local counterpart of TSA, it supervises all law enforcement agencies and personnel providing security services in transportation systems, including in airports.

More security equipment

According to Monreal, the procurement of necessary security equipment such as walk-through metal detectors, X-ray machines and alarm systems was “already ongoing.”

“[B]ut we need to understand that we cannot have these instantly. These are not items off the shelves, and manufacturing time after we place the orders may take six months,” he explained.