The international and domestic catastrophic events are hard evidence and sounding reminders that the nation must always be on guard against terrorism and acts of unlawful interference in the society.  We must always be vigilant to prevent international terrorism to spread like virus in the Philippines.

Terrorist acts cover threats or attacks against specific groups or installation by any number of means to disrupt economies and societies.  Relatedly, the transport sector has been considered as the most potent target of such violent activities, because of their relative accessibility and the potential for casualties on large scale.

Since the September 11, 2001 terror attack in the U.S. which claimed hundreds of lives, government around the world have introduced security means to combat terrorism.

The October 2002 terrorist bombing attack in Bali, Indonesia reportedly caused a sharp decline in tourist arrivals in the area and has impact on the hotel and travel industry.

In December 2002, Manila’s public railways transit system was attacked by Al-Quaeda. Though there are lesser casualties as that in Bali and New York, it has gained tremendous impact.  Their attack in Manila and the March 2004 attack in Madrid and the release of toxic gas in the Tokyo subway system in 1991 only demonstrated the vulnerability of the mass transit rail system.

The concluded investigations of the sinking of the super Ferry 14 likewise showed evidence of the vulnerability of the maritime transport system to terror attacks.

Thus, the country, through no less than Her Excellency, President GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO committed the Philippine Government to join the fight against global terrorism.

In January 30, 2004, the President issued E.O. 277 creating the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) within the Department of Transportation Communication and reconstituting NCCAS or the NCASC.

Responding to the international mandate calling for a single authority for all modes of transportation security in the Philippines per the ICAO and IM0 guidelines, the President issued E.O. 311 on April 26, 2004, designating OTS as the single authority called for and thereto expanding its powers and functions.

To effectively carry out its mandate of securing the Transportation Systems against Terrorism, OTS was organized into three (3) Transportation Security Bureaus- Civil Aviation Security Bureau (CASB),  Maritime Transportation Security Bureau (MTSB) and Land Transportation Security Bureau (LTSB),  together with  three (3) Support Bureaus – Intelligence and Operations Bureau (IOB), Administrative and Finance Bureau (AFB) and Legal and Planning Bureau (LPB).