The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has clarified that authorities from the United States (US) have not issued a new travel or security advisory against Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or any other airport in the country.
This statement was prompted by a post that trended on social media that showed a digital announcement at Sacramento International Airport about a supposed travel advisory against NAIA from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The advisory alleged that NAIA “does not maintain and carry out effective aviation security measures.”
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said he swiftly wrote to the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency responsible for the security of transportation systems, for clarification on the matter.
“We take these matters very seriously, this is why we immediately reached out to the TSA officials here in Manila and officially sought clarification,” said Dizon.
“And if there was any truth to this, we requested that this be immediately taken down so as to prevent further confusion and anxiety for travelers to the Philippines,” he added.
It was discovered that the TSA in Sacramento “may have mistakenly included” an old advisory issued in 2018 in the airport’s monitors.
TSA confirmed to the DOTr that the digital announcement had been taken down.
Based on an archived post on DHS’ website, NAIA faced a travel advisory in 2018 after it was found not to maintain and carry out effective security consistent with international standards
The advisory was rescinded in 2019 after the airport was found to be fully compliant.
Since then, no new advisories have been issued against NAIA or any other airport in the country.
New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC), the private operator of NAIA, said the TSA conducts security assessments every six months.
The most recent assessment, in February 2025, showed major improvements in the airport. It was the first since 2019 with no new findings.
The DOTr and NNIC have committed to ensuring the safety, security, and integrity of the country’s primary gateway while upholding global aviation standards.