THE Manila International Airport Authority on Wednesday brushed aside survey reports saying that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport placed number 5 in the list of worst airports in Asia.
‘’The survey came out last year and I was surprised why the travel website has to release it again,” said MIAA general manager Eddie Villanueva Monreal in reaction to the survey released by “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports.”
He said the survey brought out travelers complaining of being victims of the so-called bullet-planting extortion scheme at the airport, frequent power outages, poor air-conditioning, lack of seats and complicated terminal transfer.
When he was appointed in July, Monreal said the MIAA, in close coordination with the Police-Aviation Security Group, made sure that passengers would not be arrested if it caught with a single bullet in their luggage.
“Just confiscate the live bullet or amulet then let them go,” Monreal said referring to personnel of the Avsegroup who is in charge of investigation. “This [tanim-bala]scheme is a thing of the past.”
Monreal said he would likely to address what have been pointed out by travelers regarding the Naia.
As part of its continued vigilance, Monreal said that Naia is tightening the security and intelligence work on all terminals to make sure that passengers and airport users are safe while at the terminals.
Upon assumption of office, Monreal also instituted numerous reforms and improvements to better serve the passengers and airports users of the four terminals of the country’s premier airport.
Among the reforms initiated by Monreal was the reactivation of the Airport Security Center.
ASC, under the supervision of the MIAA general manager, is tasked to protect the security regularity and efficiency of the Naia by developing and implementing the necessary procedures in compliance with the provisions of the National Civil Aviation Security Program for safeguarding persons, terminals, air navigations, aircraft and equipment against acts of unlawful interference.
Monreal also created a central desk connecting all agencies designed to provide immediate response to passenger complaints and concerns.Ӭ
In terms of decongestion, the Airport chief, with the help of the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, had introduce restrictions on general aviation and aerial works traffic at NAIA that in turn will increase the numbers of commercial flights per hour to minimize flight delays.
Monreal said he is also considering putting up state-of-the-art closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) at the baggage build up areas particularly at Terminal 1 to replace the old which were installed in the 1990s.
Regular taxis were also allowed to pick up passengers at the arrival area under the new management of the airport.