New cameras boost security at domestic airport

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has boosted its security against terrorists, criminals and illegal activities with the installation of a closed circuit television (CCTV) system at the Manila Domestic Airport.

The MIAA said that the cost to put up the CCTV system, which includes the equipment and installation, was P997,762.03.

The system includes nine fixed cameras, three moving cameras, one camera with built-in zoom, five television monitors inside the control room, one monitor inside the office of the Officer-in-Charge of the Domestic Passenger Terminal, one monitor inside the office of the OIC of the Airport Police Department (APD) Domestic Terminal, one recorder, and other accessories.

In a proposal sent to MIAA General Manager Edgardo Manda on November 2003, the MIAA said the CCTV system for the Manila Domestic Passenger Terminal was initiated in coordination with the security office for the purpose of effective monitoring security and operational concerns at the building.

"This is one of the measures that the Authority undertakes to further assure our passengers and stakeholders of the security and comfort they deserve," Manda said in a statement.

The cameras were installed to monitor activities at the Manila Domestic Airport’s departure curbside, departure lobby entrance, terminal curbside entrance, departure lobby, initial security check, check-in area hallway, check-in area, final security check, pre-departure areas 1 and 2, arrival baggage claim area, and arrival hallway.

The project is designed with system recording features for all camera videos on real-time basis in order to attain good and efficient archiving. The system is capable of monitoring security operations and illegal activities. With the continuing threat of terrorism, the installation of the CCTV serves as a tool to counteract these threats, MIAA said in its proposal.

MIAA has trained from 2003 to 2004, a total of 102 newly-hired Airport Police Department (APD) officers, some of whom have been given assignments to handle the CCTV system.

The CCTV at the Manila Domestic Airport is manned by two APD policemen per shift, of three shifts a day, 24 hours a day, or a total of six per day. They are in a rotation basis, some of whom are also assigned in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 building, to monitor areas in the NAIA complex. There are a total of 13 APD policemen manning the NAIA terminal, also in three shifts in a 24-hour basis.