Statement of Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph G. Recto

28 February 2023

Dahil may budget ito na P346 million sa taong 2023, lumalabas na gumagasta ang taxpayers ng halos P1 milyon kada araw para sa pasweldo at operations ng Office for Transportation Security.

Napupunta rin sa OTS ang parte nang kinokolektang NAIA terminal fee, na P300 mula sa domestic passengers at P750 naman kung sasakay ng international flights.

These mandatory fees are paid by passengers on the guarantee that their belongings are protected, not pilfered by employees of the very same agency to which they have made the payment. 

A few erring OTS employees have dealt the nation a black eye. Na-tag na nga ang NAIA as one of the world’s worst airport, lalo pang pinalala ng insidenteng ito.

That viral footage has inflicted a reputational damage which could cancel gains from DOT’s P1.27 billion branding offensive this year.

Ilang libong piso ang ninakaw sa isang pasahero, pero milyun-milyon ang posibleng mawala sa ating ekonomiya. 

It would, however, take more than the prosecution of erring personnel to erase the unfair impression that the X-ray machines of our biggest airport are manned by pickpockets.

Our airport and transportation officials should roll out new programs that will assure the whole world that our airport security checks are not holdup points.

Kasama na dito ang installation ng mga CCTVs that will plug blind spots and will blanket security checkpoints under constant and complete monitoring to deter the repeat of the much assailed theft.

Di hamak na tapat, magalang at masipag ang mga kawani ng OTS. Hindi dapat sila maging collateral damage ng ilang bulok nilang kasamahan.

It is also for the sake of their reputation that punishment be meted out to the guilty.

And it is in our national interest that we unveil initiatives that would convey the comforting message that our airport personnel while thorough are trustworthy.