NAIA to Implement Pre-Immigration Security Screening

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is set to enhance its security measures by moving screening checkpoints before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) counters. This change, announced by Kim Marquez, a spokesperson for the Office for Transportation and Security (OTS), aims to address passenger complaints about the inconvenience of handling prohibited items after immigration processing. Currently, passengers who are found with items not allowed through security must return to the check-in counters, a process complicated by already-stamped passports. By conducting security checks first, passengers will have the opportunity to check in prohibited items rather than have them confiscated. Marquez emphasized that while OTS can confiscate items like liquid containers over 100 ml, they do not have the authority to offload passengers. Discussions with New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) have been positive, though no specific implementation date has been set due to the need to relocate security equipment. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval expressed support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve passenger experience. In 2024, NAIA served over 50 million passengers, a significant increase from previous years, underscoring the importance of such operational enhancements.