US rescinds notice on NAIA security conditions

US Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan yesterday ordered the rescission of public notice on security conditions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The notice was issued and published on Dec. 27, 2018 after multiple assessments of Manila’s failure to adequately implement and maintain international security standards and recommended practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organization, according to the Homeland Security Department’s news website.

“After months of direct engagement with the United States, the Government of the Philippines has made significant improvements to its security operations. 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,” it said.

McAleenan, through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is required to assess the effectiveness of security at all foreign airports served by US air carriers, among others.

“If the Secretary of Homeland Security finds, based on TSA’s assessment, that an airport has failed to implement effective security measures, he shall notify the foreign government authorities of that finding and recommend steps to achieve compliance,” the report said.

The US has noted terrorist threats to civil aviation, which is one reason it is supporting the Philippines’ efforts to improve airport security, it said.

The US State Department has provided $5 million to help fund airport security improvements to include training and technology.