THE United States Homeland Security has lifted is security advisory on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) issued in December, it said in a statement late Thursday.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan ordered the recall of the public notice, citing “significant improvements” in the security operations at the Manila airport.

Both the Manila International Airport Authority and Philippine civil aviation security authorities “have demonstrated they are willing to work toward sustaining those improvements,” according to the statement.

The Department of Transportation had to publish an updated NAIA security plan, enforce new security screening procedures and use new screening equipment

The secretary of Homeland Security through the Transportation Secretary Administration assesses security measures in foreign airports served by US airlines.

“Several attacks targeting civil aviation over the past several years, along with ISIL’s and Al-Qaida’s repeated intentions and demonstrated capability clearly indicate the threat that terrorism poses to civil aviation,” the DHS said. “This is one reason why the United States actively supports the Philippine’s efforts to improve airport security.”

The US State Department has provided a $5 million funding to help improve security operations in Manila, while the TSA provided aviation security advisors to help enforce security and analyze operations.

The security advisory was issued on Dec. 27, 2018 after the government failed to meet international security standards under the International Civil Aviation Organization. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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