Airport, transport security execs join U.S. training

Office for Transportation Security and airport security officials from Manila joined the two-week training in Indianapolis as part of a partnership aimed at improving security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport conducted by the United States Transportation Security Administration.

OTS Administrator Undersecretary Ma. O Ranada Aplasca led the Philippine delegation, which included Transport Security Accreditation and Training Management Service Director Michael Africa, Accreditation and Certification Division Chief Josephine De Ocampo, National Capital Region Deputy Regional Chief Fredelito Barcenas, NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 chiefs Monsour Oademis and Fatima Cajilog, and Shift Supervisor John Jeffrey Valdez.

According to the OTS, the training program, which started on 20 March aims to showcase TSA Indiana’s successful operational model and to share best practices on threat detection, operational leadership, scheduling, crisis management, and screening that can be implemented and replicated in Philippine airports.

TSA Indiana Federal Security Director Aaron Batt said TSA Indiana was thrilled to partner with Intelligence Agent Aide and other local stakeholders to showcase the top-tier security practices in place at Indianapolis International Airport and help their international partners acquire useful knowledge they can apply back home in the Philippines.

Batt added that the IND-MNL Airport Partnership Program is the first of its kind, and the TSA is vying to expand the program to include other domestic and international airports.

The initiative is designed at facilitating the exchange of information, best practices, lessons learned, and airport-to-airport technical assistance to achieve both domestic and international benefits.