CEBU CITY — The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) is on heightened alert status following the bombing incident in Basilan last Tuesday.
MCIAA general manager, Steve Dicdican, announced Thursday night that they have intensified security measures at the airport and its premises on orders of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Dicdican, who co-chairs the DOTr-Regional Management Council in Central Visayas, said in a statement that he has also issued a memorandum to all council members to prioritize the safety of the public by observing tighter security measures in their respective areas of responsibilities — airports, seaports, and bus terminals.
“Our facilities must be kept protected from any incident caused by inadequate security measures and lapses in our security procedures,” he said, stressing the need for inter-agency cooperation against any threat to public order and safety.
“Our task necessarily includes protection of human lives and properties,” he added.
Dicdican also ordered the full staffing of all security shifts to ensure the strict implementation of the “Heightened Security Alert Status”.
The MCIAA official likewise apologized to the travelling public for the inconvenience they may encounter at the airport due to the beefed-up security measures, which are necessary to safeguard the lives of the passengers from threats.
“The riding public is assured that this heightened security alert is not intended to inconvenience the public, but to ensure their safety with the least disruption on operations, such as flight schedules,” Dicdican said. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)
