Wazzup PIlipinas!
Representatives from the different security services of major public transportation system providers in the country have assured the safety and security of citizens in transportation hubs, in light with the recent security breach in an entertainment center in Pasay City.
At the “Tapatan sa Aristocrat” on Monday morning, transportation officials from the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3), Philippine National Railways (PNR), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Office of Transport Security (OTS) assured the public that proper security protocols are in place in all major air, land and sea facilities and gateways across the country.
“Sa atin, pag mayroon tayong nakukuhang delikadong information, vina-validate namin yan… Yun pong sinasabi mong threats, yung threats lagi pong nariyan yan. Omnipresent yan. Hindi tayo pwedeng magrelax. So if you noticed, even the President, alerto siya,” says Undersecretary Art Evangelista of the Office of Transport Security.
Evangelista adds that airports observe meticulous security procedures before passengers are allowed to enter the aircraft. There are even independent screening protocols laid out by airline companies before their planes depart.
“If you noticed sa airport, nago-observe kami ng three-tier defense system. Meron kaming checkpoint bago mag-terminal. Meron kaming screening point bago ka pumasok sa terminal. At doon sa final [post], may screening point pa roon. Hindi pa satisfied ang airline, mayroon rin silang sariling screening point bago ka pumasok ng eroplano. Ganun katindi ang screening sa airport,” Undersecretary Evangelista explains.
Similarly, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been observing stringent measures of identifying potential threats on all ports. They have likewise stationed K-9 dogs to detect explosive devices and narcotics in every vessel.
“Sa port security, meron po tayong tinatawag na layering katulad po din sa airport. Meron po tayong frisking. Meron po tayong X-ray machines at saka ibang sistema upang malaman po natin kung may threat o wala. At higit po sa lahat, lingid po sa kaalaman ng karamihan, ang Philippine Coast Guard ang may pinakamaraming inventory ng K-9 na aso sa Pilipinas,” explains Commodore Joel Garcia of the Philippine Coast Guard
The PCG also conducts constant periodic review of its security protocol to ensure that port monitoring is ensured.
For its part, the LRTA said that its management is beefing up with the procurement of emergency response equipment that are necessary for rescue and other untoward incidents.
“In-activate namin and we are lining up trainings and quick-response teams. Because as we all know, marami sa ikinamatay ng mga tao sa Resorts World ay due to suffocation. And the LRTA Administrator also ordered the procurement of breathing apparatus and rescue equipment na bini-bid na po natin yan. Siguro in a few weeks e ide-deliver na,” says Mr. Dominic Cabigting, Admin Department head of LRTA.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
