DESPITE the funfare that attended their installation two months ago, the 14 units of brand-new EQO body scanners from Germany remain unused and have become mere “security decorations” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) departure terminals.
The scanners, costing P12 million to P14 million each, arrived in July. They were installed to detect weapons and will be used in time for the arrival of foreign guests during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit here in November.
Airport authorities said the 14 units would be distributed to the four passenger terminals of the Naia.
When asked to comment, Manila International Airport Authority Spokesman David de Castro said the airport is waiting for the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) personnel to finish the training on the use of the scanners.
It was reported earlier that some personnel were sent to Germany, courtesy of the supplier, Smith Detection of Singapore, to train them on the use of the scanners.
De Castro said those who were sent to Germany months ago were trained only on how to inspect the equipment.
“Iba sa Germany, inspection of the equipment ang ginagawa nila doon. Now, training naman for the personnel who will actually man the body scanners ang kailangan.”
“We’re now training the personnel who will actually man the body scanners. We expect the scanners to be up and running by the Apec summit,” de Castro added.
Some members of the OTS said the scanners have no available spare parts, such as “sockets” needed to operate the machine.
According to a brochure from the supplier, the EQO millimeter wave scanners and x-ray machine are a pair of detectors, and installed to prevent would-be terrorists from bringing in guns and other hardware. It is sensitive enough to detect metallic objects, but the “waves” are not powerful enough to show the anatomical outline of the body, a taboo for many passengers and those who are concerned with privacy.
However, if a questionable object is detected, a separate, but twin accompaniment to the scanner subjects the passenger to a second inspection.
If guns or other illegal devices are detected, then the passenger will be subjected to body frisking.
The new EQO body scanner allows screeners to see even implants in the body and other medical equipment that are normally hidden from view.
Many airport observers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the expensive equipment will not become another white elephant, to be part of hundreds of unused x-ray machines and scanners at the premier airport.