NAIA operator inks deal with US dev't agency for airport screening modernization

San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) have signed an agreement for the modernization of the security screening system at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as part of its rehabilitation.

The USTDA said it will fund the technical assistance to assist NNIC in evaluating and upgrading security screening systems across all NAIA terminals, aiming to enhance passenger safety, boost screening efficiency, and align the airport with international aviation security standards.

"By working together to modernize security at NAIA, we are protecting travelers on both sides of the Pacific,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director, in a statement.

“This project stops threats before they reach American shores, deepens cooperation with a vital ally, and exemplifies the partnerships that sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific," he added.

The technical assistance will include recommendations for security screening concepts for all terminals that are aligned with US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) standards for last-point-of-departure airports.

The assistance will also identify the American suppliers of advanced screening equipment for the project, the USTDA said.

"We are grateful to USTDA for supporting this important part of NAIA’s modernization. The assistance will help us take a more detailed look at how security screening across the airport can be improved and standardized, while giving us the benefit of U.S. expertise and experience," said NNIC president Ramon Ang.

"We look forward to working closely with USTDA as we identify the systems and solutions that best fit NAIA’s needs and growing passenger volumes," he added.

To accommodate more passengers, NAIA is undergoing a major overhaul and expansion to raise its annual capacity to 62 million passengers by 2028—a significant upgrade from its 2025 volume of 52 million passengers in a space originally designed for just 35 million. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA News