Question & AnswerQ&A (OTS TRANSPORT SECURITY REGULATION NO. 009-2006 MARSS/CASS/LARSS)
The purpose of the OTS K9-EDEC is to define security criteria, standards, and procedures for the explosive detection and evaluation of bomb sniffing canines in all airport, seaport, and rail/land terminal complexes, enhancing public security through the reliable detection of explosives.
The legal basis is Executive Order No. 277 as amended by Executive Order No. 311, which designates the OTS as the single authority responsible for the security of the transportation systems in the Philippines.
It applies to all airports, seaports, port facilities, rail/land terminals, and to all personnel/agencies involved in transportation security operations, including screening of sea, air, and land vehicles, passengers, baggage, cargoes, and others as determined by the OTS Administrator.
The K-9 EDEC consists of the OTS Deputy Administrator as Chairman and members including the Directors or authorized representatives for OTS-CASS, OTS-MARSS, OTS-LARSS, and Legal, Policy Research & Adjudication Service.
The TEG assists the K-9 EDEC by providing technical evaluation and is composed of representatives from the Philippine Utility Dogs Association, Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group, Philippine Coast Guard, National Capital Region Police Office-Regional Special Action Unit, Philippine Air Force, and Presidential Security Group.
The K-9 EDEC screens and certifies explosive detector dog (EDD) teams, standardizes evaluation criteria, certifies reliability and effectiveness, establishes quality control standards, issues certificates of efficiency, keeps documentation, accredits training facilities, cancels certifications for non-compliance, and monitors K-9 teams and training activities.
An EDD Team refers to a one dog-one handler team trained and certified for explosive detection.
All explosive detector dogs must be certified by the K-9 EDEC before being deployed for transportation security assignments, with periodic and clandestine proficiency checks and annual recertification to ensure reliability and efficiency.
The K-9 EDEC, upon recommendation, can cancel the certificate of efficiency of any K-9 team that fails to comply with the quality control standard audits or testing, or for just cause due to inefficiency or irregularities.
This regulation takes effect immediately after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.