Airport Security in the Philippines seems to be visible and high profile although its more to me a matter of window dressing as the security is not effective due to the sheer weight of passenger numbers and the time constraint on each passenger being searched
At least when you enter Ninoy Acquino International Airport the only people who can get in our those with tickets........anyone else is regulated to staying outside or waiting for your return in the coffee shop on the left of the airport terminal building.
When you bags go through they are screened by an x ray machine.......then their is a personal search of your hand luggage or x ray of these items.........a body search although I was asked to take my belt off which takes ages........this is inconvenient and they need to get better equipment for this purpose...security should not slow down passenger flow and spoil the experience of travel.
On the way down to the gate for departure there is a further on board bag search and a frisk by one of the many private security companies that frequent the Philippines.
All in all the presence looks good on paper.......also taxis are checked on their way into the airport although I counted at least 11 security guards doing absolutely nothing when I recently passed through the checkpoint towards the terminal building.
I would say the security looks better than at Heathrow although is it as affective......jmaybe technology thrives better at our airports whereas in the Philippines human resources appear to be plentiful..........security always has a weak link........with the number of flights per day in the world..........their is little chance of any harm coming toa passenger..........they say the statistics show that you have more chance of being struck by lightning in the same place twice than you have of being the victim of an incident aboard as a fare paying passenger.
