Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto on Friday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider providing body cameras for Office of Transportation Security personnel manning X-ray machines and other airport security checkpoints that put them in close contact with plane passengers.
Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) eyes some measures to address long lines at the Immigration counters of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“This simple device would deter pickpockets in uniform and at the same time ward off rude passengers who harass airport personnel who are just doing their duty," Recto said in a statement.
Recto made the suggestion following two recent incidents of thievery at the airport where OTS personnel were allegedly involved.
Recto said a bodycam protects both the checker and the checked.
“May footage habang binubuksan ang isang bag na may kadudadudang laman. At may resibo kung ang bag naman na iyon ay inatake ng salisi gang na naka-uniporme,” Recto said.
He said the DOTR and the Office for Transportation Security cannot plead poverty in not buying bodycams, a device even food riders have, made affordable in this age of live-streaming.
“Ang X-ray machines ay parang toll gate. Bawat pasaherong dumadaan ay bayad ng P60 na Airport Security Fee kung sasakay ng international flights at P15 kung domestic,” Recto said.
Apart from close coordination with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the MIAA said immigration counters at the NAIA will be increased, electronic gates (e-gates) will be opened, and airlines would be requested to operate their check-in counters much earlier.
“MIAA is looking for ways to alleviate the issue as much as we can. In the meantime, we ask for the public’s understanding as the measures are put into place,” general manager Cesar Chiong said in a statement.
The MIAA cited complaints over missed flights due to the long immigration queues, and said the BI has committed to increase its manpower at the NAIA.
Some passengers posted on social media their frustrations about being offloaded because they had to queue at immigration counters for about two hours or more.
Last Jan. 4, at least 28 passengers of a local airline were unable to board their flight to Hong Kong due to long queues at the airport. The airline provided them with options such as free rebooking, full refund or travel fund.
Chiong said the processing time is critical. "If we can increase the processing rate of our immigration channels for each passenger, they should not have to wait too long even if the queue grows," he said.
According to the MIAA, NAIA Terminal 3 currently has 29 immigration counters.
It added that the installation of new e-gates will be advocated to augment the immigration processing time. Using an e-gate, a passenger needs about 12 to 15 seconds to scan the passport, have biometrics and undergo facial capturing.
The MIAA plans to make more room for immigration counters at Terminal 3 by mid-2023.
Making the NAIA Terminal 2 an all-domestic terminal, on the other hand, is also in the pipeline to help ease the congestion.
Chiong said the management welcomes the feedback of passengers, and also encourages them to go to immigration counters, undergo final security check, and proceed to the pre-departure area immediately after checking in.