The House committee on transportation has asked air transport agencies to ensure their plans and programs are now in place to alleviate traffic congestion during the Christmas season.
Committee chairman Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento said air transport agencies should be ready with the anticipated influx of balikbayans as well as local and foreign tourists this Yuletide season.
“Do you have enough Civil Aeronautics Board officers to man the complaint desks? Are you capable of demanding the compliance of airline companies with the Air Passengers Bill of Rights? With the forthcoming Christmas rush, we should address the land traffic crisis without neglecting our aviation and maritime sectors,” said Sarmiento.
Sarmiento tasked the Manila International Airport Authority, Department of Transportation, CAB, Metro Manila Development Authority and other agencies to provide their operational and contingency plans.
“We want to know the aviation programs and projects these agencies are implementing or soon to implement to give the people the kind of service that they deserve. We have had enough of being ranked the worst airport in the world. We do not want another fiasco like what happened in the past,” Sarmiento said.
“We also ask the airline companies for their word of honor—their commitment that the Air Passenger’s Rights are respected,” he added.
MIAA assistant general manager for operations Octavio Lina presented the agency’s contingency plan called “Oplan Pasko 2016.”
Lina said there will be inter-agency coordination to avoid a repeat of the December 2014 chaos at Naia Terminal 3.
He said a special booth to be manned by their operations group will be placed in Terminals 2,3 and 4 to address traffic and security concerns, among others.
MIAA will also compel its personnel to work double time during the Christmas season and succeeding days after the New Year because of the influx of travelers.
