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1. References:
   
   
1. Annex 17 to the ICAO Convention;
2. National Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP) series 2004, 2007 and 2009 specifically Sec. 8 (on passenger and cabin baggage security) and Sec. 14 (Contingency Planning and Incident Management Contingency Planning);
3. All Airport Security Programs (ASP’s) (Submitted by all Airport Authorities).

2. This Memorandum Circular is issued to clarify Section 8.5.1.3 of the NCASP which provides that:

“All departing passengers entering the Final Security Screening Check Point (FSSCP) must undergo mandatory manual search of their persons. Manual search shall be conducted on carry-on baggage if the x-ray operator detects a suspect item. Prior to entering the walk thru metal detection (WTMD) at the final security screening checkpoints (SSCPs), all passengers must remove their shoes and place them on the x-ray belt for screening.”

3. In the implementation of Sections 8 and 14 of the National Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP) regarding Passenger and Baggage Security in relation to Contingency Planning and Incident Management Contingency Planning regarding shoe screening:
   
   
   1. The determination of the need for shoe removal for screening is entrusted to the sound and responsible judgment of the concerned Airport Authority. The decision to adopt non-removal-of-shoes policy is strictly subject to the risk assessment responsibility of airport authorities on obtaining airport threats covering their respective areas against the vulnerability of aviation targets in ensuring that action is properly taken by airports, operators and other authorities to counter the threat.
   2. That if alarm is not triggered when a passenger (with shoes-on) passes the WTMD, the mandated removal of shoes/placement on x-ray belt for security screening maybe dispensed with.
      
      
4. The Airport Authority's determination of the need to apply the non-removal policy is further conditioned upon the prevailing threat condition in the concerned airport.
   
   
   1. Under Security Condition One (SECCO 1), a manual search of all airport users shall be applied randomly to at least one (1) of every twenty (20) airport users passing thru the Security Screening Checkpoint and shall be done by the detailed screening officer of the same gender. Shoes shall be removed for X-ray screening when:
      
      
      1. the WTMD alarm is triggered by an airport user upon entry;
      2. the airport user has been randomly selected [within the range of at least one (1) of every twenty (20) airport users for shoe screening];
      3. threat levels are elevated and corresponding security measures commensurate to the threat must be implemented;
      4. where WTMD equipment is not in operating order or not available, manual searches shall be conducted;
         
         
   2. Enhanced measures for Security Condition Two (SECCO 2) all departing passengers, their cabin baggage and items carried shall continue to be screened at the passenger screening checkpoints. Mandatory removal of shoes for security screening on all airport users will be imposed at the security screening checkpoint. In addition, redundancy screening may be conducted at each departure gate as the airline operator may deem necessary.
   3. Enhanced measures for Security Condition Three (SECCO 3) all departing passengers, their cabin baggage and items carried shall continue to be screened at the security screening checkpoints. Mandatory removal of shoes for security screening on all airport users will be imposed at the security screening checkpoint. In addition, all passengers, their cabin baggage and items carried shall also be screened or searched again at each departure gate by the airline operator.
      
      
5. These rules shall apply to all departing international and domestic passengers and passengers transiting through Philippine Airports.
6. To implement the non-removal of shoes per Sec. 8.5.1.3 (NCASP), the Airport Authority must revise their earlier submitted Airport Security Program (ASP) and submit the same to this Office for information, reference, and guidance.
7. All Orders, Memoranda, Circulars and previous related issuances inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed/revoked accordingly. 8. This Circular shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from the filing of a copy hereof at the University of the Philippines Law Center in consonance with Sections 3 and 4 of Chapter 2, Book VII of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as “The Revised Administrative Code of 1987”, as amended.

(SGD.) COMMO. ROLAND S. RECOMONO (Ret)
Administrator