US Dep't of Homeland Security cancels security notice vs NAIA

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered the rescission of the Public Notice concerning the security conditions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), citing implementation of “significant improvements” in its security operations.

In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, acting DHS Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan ordered the rescission “effective immediately.”

US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim immediately congratulated both the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an agency attached to the DHS, for

“working together so effectively” to improve security conditions at NAIA and to achieve standards and practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

On December 27, 2018, the DHS published the Notice following multiple assessments made on the Manila airport where they identified a failure to adequately implement and maintain international security standards and recommended practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organization in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944.

“After months of direct engagement with the United States, the Government of the Philippines has made significant improvements to the security operations of MNL (Manila). Both the Manila International Airport Authority and the Government of the Philippines civil aviation security authorities have demonstrated they are willing to work toward sustaining those improvements,” the DHS said in the statement.

As part of its mandate, the secretary of Homeland Security, through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is required to assess the effectiveness of security at all foreign airports served by US air carriers; foreign airports from which a foreign air carrier serves the United States; foreign airports that pose a high risk of introducing danger to international travel, and, other airports deemed appropriate by the DHS Secretary.

The DHS cited the threat of terrorism to civil aviation as one reason why the United States actively supports the Philippines' efforts to improve airport security.

The United States, through the State Department, provided $5 million to help fund airport security improvements at the Manila airport to include training and technology.

For its part, the TSA has also provided Aviation Security Advisors to the Philippine government to assist with the development and implementation of corrective measures at the NAIA, conduct an analysis of security operations, make recommendations on technology use and maintenance, streamline screening operations, and modernize the Manila airport’s security infrastructure. (With a report from Ariel Fernandez)