All-female security team to man NAIA terminals

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will deploy starting today an all-female team of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel to beef up security at the arrival and departure areas of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals I and II.

Retired Brig. Gen. Angel Atutubo, MIAA assistant general manager for emergency and security services, said about 30 active members of the AFP Women Auxiliary Corps (AWACS) will take the place of the usual burly and gruff-looking Marines they deploy regularly at the NAIA areas to augment security provided by MIAA security guards and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group.

"We want to make sure that while we enhance security, we also avoid an unwelcome looking airport for arriving tourists and balikbayans with too many serious-looking security guards and policemen," Atutubo told The Star. "The AWACS will have standing orders to smile and be helpful to the passengers."

Atutubo said MIAA was implementing the deployment policy in cognizance of the fact that the tight security being maintained at the airport may have started to look intimidating to some passengers with too many male soldiers, cops and guards.

"We want to have a new image for the heightened security at our airports," Atutubo said.

The policy would also be in line with an ongoing "smile campaign" being implemented by MIAA as ordered by General Manager Alfonso Cusi. Airport personnel have been exhorted to make sure that they maintain a cheerful attitude and manner when on duty at the airport.

It will be recalled that the "smile campaign" was launched late last November when President Arroyo called the attention of Cusi about the lack of smiling faces from MIAA personnel when she visited the NAIA Centennial Terminal on her way to Busan, South Korea to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) summit.