Mactan-Cebu airport to spend P500M for security upgrade

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority approved the purchase of a complete security package including closed circuit TV cameras, barriers and X-ray machines

THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport will be upgrading its security equipment this year.

MCIA Authority General Manager Steve Dicdican said the board has approved the purchase of a P500-million airport security package that will include acquisitions of vehicle X-ray, closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and bollard barriers.

Dicdican said the bids and awards committee (BAC) headed by Assistant General Manager Glenn Napuli has bidded it out and the acquisition of the equipment needed will start soon.

MCIAA will acquire six retractable hydraulic bollard barriers for vehicles. The budget for the bollard barriers is P15.1 million.

Dicdican said that if a vehicle is suspected of being used for criminal activities, a bollard will block its entry and it will be led to a designated area for inspection.

He added that if a vehicle is already inside the airport and is being used for a crime, a bollard installed in the exit lane will block it.

On the other hand, Dicdican said they will install a CCTV security surveillance system for the airport’s airfield parameter, roadnets and at the checkpoint near the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa). The approved budget for the CCTV is P116.2 million.

The amount of P29.6 million has been approved for an under vehicle inspection system.

All other allocations are for the improvement of existing airport security equipment.

Retired Gen. Froilan Bonifacio, the manager of MCIAA’s emergency service and security department, said that once this project is completed, MCIAA will be at par with other international airports.

Bonifacio said this was approved by the MCIAA board early this month and is already in the pipeline.