Manila: The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) on Monday assured of thorough baggage screening amid the rollout of the automated passenger processing system at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

According to Philippines News Agency, among the automated system's features include enabling eligible passengers to tag and drop their bags. In an interview, OTS spokesperson Kim Marquez said all baggage must undergo security screening before loading them onto the aircraft, a requirement under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

"Passengers can use the kiosks for bag tagging and bag drop. Once luggage is submitted, it goes to the baggage make up area where it will be screened for any security prohibited items," Marquez told the Philippine News Agency. Carry-on bags, on the other hand, are subjected to security screening at checkpoints before the boarding gates, she added.

The phased automated processing has been available for passengers of at least seven airlines across all NAIA terminals. More carriers are set to integrate their systems into digital processing, according to the New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC). Aside from enabling passengers to tag and drop their bags, the digital rollout also allows them to check in, print boarding passes, clear initial security, and board flights through automated lanes. This reduces queuing times and congestion at traditional counters.

"We are very supportive of the automation efforts of the NNIC, and the OTS will always support efforts that would help improve services to airport passengers," Marquez said.