US lifts security advisory on NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Passengers using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will now be assured of better security measures after safety conditions in the country’s main international gateway passed the standards of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“Now you can be assured that our airports are safe and secure. Our airports are competitive by way of international standards,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The DHS on Thursday lifted the December 2018 public notice on security conditions at the NAIA after the airport was found to have made significant improvements in security operations.

NAIA operator Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and various civil aviation security authorities were also seen “demonstrating their willingness to work toward sustaining the improvements.”

”The NAIA passed two consecutive inspections conducted by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in March and May 2019. We have changed a lot of process, processes which were there when we came in. We have also put in and changed a lot of equipment which were not there when we came in,” Tugade said.

He said the development could have a positive impact on the economy by encouraging more tourists to visit the country.

The DHS advisory issued last December directed airlines going to the Philippines to alert their passengers on the deficiency of security measures at NAIA after finding that the airport “does not maintain and carry out effective security consistent with the security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

“I am delighted to inform you that DHS has rescinded the public notice on NAIA. Thank you for your strong leadership on this matter,” US Ambassador Sung Kim told Tugade on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. commended the US ambassador and Philippine government officials for the lifting of the security advisory on NAIA.

“US Homeland Security lifted security concerns about NAIA. Congratulations US Amb Kim Sung for all the help; PH Amb Babe Romualdez in Washington for the unrelenting pressure; and DOTr Sec Tugade for doing in 6 months what US Homeland expected would take years. What a winning team,” Locsin said in a Twitter post on Thursday.

Romualdez said the DHS and TSA have informed them that NAIA is “much improved now” and are hopeful that they will remain vigilant and consistent.

“Our US friends are extremely pleased with our cooperation,” Romualdez told the Philippine News Agency.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), for its part, lauded the lifting of the US public advisory.

“We, at DOT, are very elated and encouraged by this development as we renew our commitment to extend to the public, particularly our international visitors, the highest potentials of the Filipino brand of service,” Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

“This development also augurs well for the DOT’s efforts to increase tourist arrivals and for the development of a culture of resilient, inclusive and sustainable tourism in the country,” she added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the efforts made to efficiently address TSA findings include the approval and publication of the updated NAIA Security Plan and National Civil Aviation Security Program; strict implementation of new security screening standard operating procedures such as operationalization of alarm system of access doors; use of dual view x-ray machines and explosive trace devices;

Recruitment, training and certification of additional security screening officers; close coordination among all security units operating at the NAIA, such as the Office for Transportation Security, the police Aviation Security Group, MIAA Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and contracted security guards; and the cooperation of airline companies, ground handlers and their concessionaires.

Tugade said the positive development is a collective effort from the DOTr as well as other civil aviation security groups in NAIA. – With Helen Flores, Catherine Talavera, Rudy Santos