Mar, BI, Customs to tackle NAIA woes

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will take on the challenge of straightening out the persistent headaches at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Roxas will gather today the chief of the Bureau of Immigration, Ricardo David, and Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Rufino Biazon, as well as Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado, to a conference where they will tackle issues affecting services to passengers using the NAIA Terminals I, II, and III, as well as the Manila Domestic Airport.

Also expected at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) meeting to be led by Roxas is Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

The effort to spruce up and improve conditions at the NAIA terminals is in preparation for the expected surge in flights for the coming Christmas rush with foreign tourist and balikbayan arrivals.

Roxas decided to take the initiative after NAIA was recently tagged as the “World’s Worst Airport To Sleep In” by the “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports,” an interactive website that gathers reports from various reviewers and travelers.

The reports spurred calls from various sectors for the DOTC and MIAA to take measures to improve facilities at the terminals.