Pat downs, frisking at Naia to end; full body scanners set up in June

Airline passengers may no longer have to be patted down by security personnel when the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) sets up full body scanners in June.

The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) has procured 14 new full body scanners that will soon do away with frisking and will augment the 26 walkthrough metal detectors installed in the four Naia terminals.

In a statement, Miaa General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said, “Miaa makes it a point to keep abreast with technology especially in terms of security for the airport. With the assumption that potential threats are also executed in new ways to breach security, management has to put in place better safeguards for passengers.”

Honrado added that the 14 EQO model portals, costing nearly P150 million, would further improve Naia security.

The Miaa general manager said the EQO model portals manufactured by Smiths Detection used an advanced millimeter-wave technology, a low-frequency radiation, to detect concealed objects on a person’s body.

Smiths Detection’s EQO portal system is reportedly the “most advanced scanner” in the market acknowledged by the European Civil Aviation Conference.

He added the full body scanners could detect ceramics, liquids, metals, drugs and explosive materials.

Honrado explained, “A passenger going through the body scanner will simply have to stand inside the open booth of the EQO portal. The scan results will then be shown immediately on the operator’s screen indicating the location of the concealed items.”

The Miaa general manager said that passengers need not be frisked and would only be asked by security personnel to remove the questionable items.

He assured the public the passengers’ privacy would be protected as the scanning system would only show the outline of a person’s body.

The EQO portals will be placed at the final security screening checkpoints of each terminal. Three units will be set up at terminal 1; five units at terminal 2; five units at terminal 3, and a unit at terminal 4.

The 26 walkthrough metal detectors at the preboarding area at the Naia terminals will not be removed and will still be used.

The bidding for the installation of the full body scanners began in February 2013 and the contract was awarded in November 2014 to the Defense & Protection System Inc., Philippines.