X-ray machine now at Lasang checkpoint

A SECURITY machine, including a brand new walk through metal detector and x-ray baggage scanner, provided by the City Government of Davao has been installed and is now operational at the Lasang checkpoint, a security officer said.

Task Force Davao Commander Colonel Consolito Yecla said on May 15, the machines were already completed and tested. They will only allow the passengers to pass through it once the air conditioning units arrive to ensure that the machines do not overheat.

With this, inspection process of passengers passing through this checkpoint will become faster, as they will no longer have to line up and undergo manual inspection. The first set of this was installed at the Sirawan, Toril checkpoint.

“As early as yesterday (May 15), na establish na ‘yong ating walk through machine metal detector and x-ray baggage machine sa Lasang detachment. Operational na siya kaya lang tinigil muna ang pagpasok kasi hinihintay natin ngayong hapon ‘yong pagdating ng air condition [units] para hindi mag overheat yong machine sa lasang,” Yecla said.

This time, the new equipment is housed in a spacious tent after they encountered problems during the operation in Toril.

In Toril, they had an issue with the size of the facility where the equipment was placed inside a 20-footer container van. They observed that the area where the passengers have to pass through was quite narrow.

Yecla said during their inspection using the new equipment in Sirawan, Toril, they recovered several prohibited items like bladed items.

Asked when they will install similar security measure in Calinan checkpoint, Toril said they are just waiting for the arrival of the tent they have requested.