THE Office for Transportation Security (OTS) is collaborating with Australian Cyber and Infrastructure Security to enhance security measures in Philippine civil aviation.
OTS administrator Arthur Bisnar said Australia has long maintained close relationships with the OTS over the years.
“This collaboration on aviation security has played a crucial role in creating and enforcing measures to protect air travel,” said Bisnar following a recent meeting with counsellor for Transport Security of the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre of the Australian Department of Home Affairs Andrew Mcgrath and Australian Embassy secretary Daniel Bell.
He added that the meeting further strengthened the continuing partnership between the two countries in aviation security.
The meeting primarily discussed collaborative initiatives to enhance the skills of airport authorities by conducting capacity-building activities and offering additional laptops equipped with X-ray tutor software, which would help in the training of OTS security screening officers in detecting security prohibited items at airports to mitigate potential threats, ensuring secured travel for airport passengers.
Bisnar emphasized that this partnership is an important component of the international commitment of the OTS to enhance civil aviation security.
“The assistance from the government of Australia has long provided an avenue for Philippine airport authorities to enhance their capability in taking steps ahead of its adversaries,” he said.
Also present in the meeting were OTS deputy administrator Jose Briones Jr., head executive assistant to the administrator Rommel Tello, legal service director George Almaden, Transportation Security Policy and Program Service Jose Carillo, Transport Security Accreditation and Training Management Service director Rodelio Jocson, officer-in-charge of administrative and finance services Florendo Quibuyen, and International Affairs Division chief Epifanio Bragais Jr.