In line with the Department of Transportation's "OPLAN Biyaheng Ayos: SK Elections and Undas 2023," the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) has compiled a list of travel tips to help passengers have a better and more comfortable, accessible, safe, sustainable, and affordable travel experience during the holiday season.

OTS advised all travelers to avoid bringing anything with sharp edges or points, which are strictly prohibited in carry-on bags and are only allowed in checked luggage.

It also reminds the traveling public that all liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGS) are not permitted to be on hand. Only medicines and milk juices for passengers with specific needs are exempt.

If a LAGS is too big to fit in a liter bag or exceeds the 100-ml restriction, an exemption might be given if it can be demonstrated that these things are necessary. But make sure that all liquids, aerosols, and gels are contained in a container no larger than 100 ml and stored inside a resealable plastic bag no larger than 1 liter.

All types of LAGS, regardless of volume, that are classified as flammable (extremely combustible and self-igniting by chemical reactions), corrosive, or toxic are not permitted or allowed (refer to Republic Act No. 6235).

Use of security tamper-evident bags for transporting duty-free bottles so that they can be accepted at transit point checkpoints abroad

All metallic and non-metallic items must be divested before one goes through the walk-through metal detector or Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT). Divested valuable items must be placed inside the bags to prevent leaving items at the security screening checkpoints.

All kinds of lighters, disposable or not, are not allowed through security screening checkpoints. It is, thus, recommended to leave these items at home to prevent confiscation.

Meanwhile, on 18 October 2023, the OTS Security Screening Officers (OTS-SSO) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, detained a passenger who was carrying a gun and three pieces of live ammunition.

According to the report, OTS-SSO Grace Marquez and Maria Charito Mapalo detected the suspected firearm during a routine security check at the Initial Security Screening Check Point (ISSCP) at around 5:32 a.m. on Wednesday.

The firearm was found inside the backpack of the passenger who was identified as Alejandro P. Peñaflor Jr., who was scheduled to board a Cebu Pacific flight 5J262 bound for Iloilo. Peñaflor failed to provide the necessary documents for transporting the firearm.

The passenger and the seized firearm were immediately turned over to the PNP Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU) for further investigation and proper disposition.

The OTS said that this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of civil aviation security measures in ensuring the prevention of prohibited items that may be used to commit acts of unlawful interference.