Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator and Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz delivered a powerful keynote address at the prestigious Philippine Railway Summit, urging industry leaders to immediately bolster security and adopt a proactive, integrated defense strategy against evolving threats to the nation’s rail infrastructure.
Usec. Cruz centered his presentation on a critical analysis of Global and Domestic Terror Incidents specifically targeting the rail sector. His objective was to provide stakeholders with a stark, actionable understanding of present-day vulnerabilities.
Addressing an audience of railway operators, industry leaders, and government officials, Usec. Cruz emphasized that a reactive approach is no longer sufficient to ensure public safety and operational resilience.
“From the terror incidents I have presented here and abroad, one core lesson emerged: To truly build a secure and resilient transport system, security must be integrated from the very beginning, not just added later as a reaction,” Usec. Cruz stated.
The Administrator then underscored the vital role of the National Land Transportation Security Program (NLTSP), positioning it as the nation’s primary defense mechanism against land transport terrorism.
The NLTSP, spearheaded by the OTS, details a comprehensive, integrated approach that covers:
Risk Mitigation Strategies
Enhanced Intelligence Sharing Protocols
Rapid Response Mechanisms across all land transport modes.
Call to Action for Stakeholders
The address reinforced the OTS’s unwavering commitment to leading the security mandate for the entire transportation sector. Usec. Cruz made a definitive call on all railway stakeholders—from government agencies to private operators—to fully and immediately integrate the provisions of the NLTSP into their daily operations and planning processes.
This strategic integration is critical to ensuring the security and operational continuity of the Philippine railway system, which is a backbone of the national economy.
