By Ma. Cristina Arayata
MANILA – The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) will review the systems and processes implemented by the agency, including promotion system among the personnel, its chief said Wednesday.
In an interview over state-run Radyo Pilipinas, OTS administrator Arthur Bisnar said the recent viral incident of a woman alleged to be carrying an amulet or bullet at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was a chance for them to review their systems and processes.
To recall, 69-year-old passenger Ruth Adel narrated in a social media post her “tanim-bala” (bullet planting) experience with airport screening personnel last March 6 at NAIA Terminal 3.
Adel said she was on her way to the boarding gate when screening personnel approached her to tell her she had a bullet in her bag. The personnel had different statements, laughed, and even tried to hide their name tags upon learning they were being filmed.
Bisnar said that although the personnel had a good intention in checking the bag, there was a lapse in the procedure.
“The moment that the passenger has already made her way past the security checkpoint and yet they still tried to stop her in the boarding gate, that’s the lapse,” he said, pointing out the delay in the detection of suspected prohibited item on the x-ray screen, and the personnel were not sure whether the bag belonged to Adel.
“How they approached the passenger was also wrong. They were smirking, laughing,” he said.
Boosting morale
Bisnar acknowledged that there are screening personnel who are doing their job well, adding that he spoke with the terminal chiefs of all airports across the country following the incident.
“I assured them that if they are doing the right thing, the OTS and the DOTr (Department of Transportation) would support them,” he said.
This includes recognition, giving of certificates or medals, hiring of additional personnel, and a review of promotion system.
Bisnar cited as example a personnel in Iloilo who has been in service for 30 years, but would retire only under salary grade (SG) 4.
“We should not neglect the employees who have served for 30 years but the salary is SG 4,” he said. (PNA)
