THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has tightened security measures in all 42 commercial airports due to bomb threats.

In a memorandum issued on October 4, the CAAP instructed that airports and area centers must augment adequate security personnel to manage the expected high volume of passengers and vehicle traffic.

Stringent access control procedures for both personnel and vehicles will be implemented, along with thorough inspections of passengers and cargo.

CAAP Security and Intelligence Service personnel are working closely with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group and the military to intensify intelligence and monitoring operations.

Foot and mobile patrols are also being conducted within both the airside and landside areas of the airport complex.

Airport security coordination meetings will also be convened with all relevant stakeholders.

”We advise passengers who will be traveling internationally to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled flight to avoid any inconvenience. We also urge the public to cooperate fully with security personnel and to remain vigilant while at the airport. Safety and security remain our top priorities, and these measures are being taken to safeguard all those who use our airports,” CAAP said in a statement on Friday.

The memorandum came after CAAP’s Air Traffic Service received an email stating that aircraft from Manila bound for Puerto Princesa, Cebu, Bicol, and Davao International airports ”are about to be set off by a bomb.”

On Monday, flight operations at the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, were briefly halted as a result of an alleged bomb joke on a note left in a plane’s lavatory.