WASHINGTON- Homeland Security wants foreign airlines to transmit their passenger lists to the US government before the departureof US-bound airliners to prevent suspected terrorists from boarding such flights.

This will reverse the current policy of requiring that manifests for flights from foreign countries, including the Philippines, be transmitted shortly before takeoff. Under the present system, some airlines have been diverted or turned around if the manifest raises suspicion of US authorities.

The new system will prevent this from happening.

The change will also free foreign airlines flying to the US from screening their passengers against security watch lists or “no fly” lists maintained by the US government. “Our priority is to keep terrorists out of the United States by preventing them from boarding international flights," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement.