The Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will procure additional airport security devices worth about P500 million for installation in 45 of the country’s 89 airports.
“By the end of this year, all 45 of our airports will have the appropriate security screening facilities,” Transport Secretary Manuel Roxas II said.
“Aside from the security screens for initial and final security checkpoints, the nine cargo screens will be used for screening unaccompanied baggage. This will be installed in our big airports that have a big volume of unaccompanied baggage traffic.”
At least 21 airports will be equipped with initial security checkpoints where passengers and both hand-carried and check-in baggage go through a metal detector and a baggage or cargo x-ray machine to ensure no metals, explosives, drugs, or organic substances pass through security checks.
Of the 21 airports, only three — the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Cebu, and Davao airports — have final security checkpoints before the passenger boards the plane.
To strengthen security at all airports, government is purchasing 46 sets of screening equipment, specifically walk-through metal detector devices, cargo and baggage x-ray machines. Nine specialty cargo x-rays and 59 close-circuit televisions will be acquired and 22 non-operational x-rays rehabilitated.
The project will be open for bidding by first week of April. Contract awarding will be announced not later than end of June.
DOTC is also fasttracking implementation of an integrated transport project provided for under Executive Order No. 67 issued last February 21, which calls for planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Integrated Transport System (ITS) project.
Under the ITS, a bus terminal north of Metro Manila, near North Luzon Expressway, will be constructed for provincial buses with Northern Luzon routes, and another terminal in the south, near South Luzon Expressway, for provincial buses plying Southern Luzon routes.
Another terminal may be put up near the Coastal Road/CAVITEX.
The project, which will be bidded out, will have an inter-agency committee composed of the DOTC, Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Economic and Development Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Land Transportation Office.
