THE “bug” causing operational problems to Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority’s (MCIAA) P196.38 million mobile x-ray machine is a human.
It took almost two years and at least three top-to-bottom inspections before the MCIAA found that it was an unqualified operator from its Emergency and Security Services Department (ESSD) that has been causing the erroneous reading by its cutting-edge Mobile X-Ray Screening System.
“The said MCIAA ESSD representative was not adequately knowledgeable about the correct and full operation of the machine,” the airport management said.
Officials had high hopes when the vehicle-mounted scanner was purchased from an American manufacturer in 2019.
After all, the equipment was advertised as a mobile border control vehicle extensively used in the United States-Mexican border for the interdiction and seizure of contraband, illegal substances, and even firearms and explosives.
During a test operation on May 20, 2021, however, the device failed to detect a gun and ammunition inside a normal road vehicle even if it was supposedly rated to penetrate metals up to 35mm thickness.
More tests in the next five days produced almost exactly the same results.
Another inspection on May 23, 2022 failed due to a busted high-voltage power supply rendering the multi-million device non-operational.
On the third inspection, the MCIAA had a light bulb moment — it turned out the X-ray setup and operations performed were improperly conducted. The machine was only as smart as the person at the control.
“A third inspection through the extensive explanations and demonstrations of the proper operations and usage by the supplier representative revealed … the X-ray machine and the set-up and operations performed by the lone MCIAA ESSD representative were not proper, hence no image of said firearm was produced,” the management explained.
One problem out of the way, on to the next.
The MCIAA is being asked by the Commission on Audit to justify the procurement of the equipment and why it was left unused inside the aviation compound.
“(T)he said Mobile X-ray Equipment had been kept idle either in the Agency’s parking lot or in the general aviation ground. This is a prima facie indication that the machine was not fully utilized for its purpose or worse, may not be necessary at all,” the COA pointed out.
The MCIAA said it will submit a letter with the explanations, together with the supporting documents.
