By Ma. Cristina Arayata
MANILA – Philippine officials on Thursday said a United States Department of Homeland Security (US DHS) advisory circulating on social media about inadequate security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is an old one from four years ago.
In a statement on Thursday, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) said the particular advisory was issued in December 2018, and “has since been removed from airports in the US.”
The continued cooperation and constant coordination between the OTS, the Manila International Airport Authority and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, resulted in sustained compliance with international standards and recommended practices in civil aviation security, it added.
In the joint security assessment by the OTS and US Transportation Security Administration last August, the latter commended the adequate security measures at the Philippine airport, the OTS said.
The Philippines, it said, was the first country in Asia to have its advanced security screening technologies placed in strategic areas.
OTS Administrator Ma.O Aplasca recently met with TSA chief David Pekoske to discuss joint security initiatives to enhance both countries’ aviation security.
Aplasca was able to secure a donation of additional security screening equipment and a pledge from the US government in the form of capability enhancement and training assistance for the Philippines.
“Philippine airport authorities have continued working together with the US and other foreign counterparts to improve the overall status of security at the country’s international gateways,” the OTS said. (PNA)
