NAIA terminal congestion blamed on design flaw

The officer-in-charge of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has attributed the congestion and long lines of passengers at the departure area to a flaw in the design of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 building.

"There is a defect in the design of the NAIA Terminal 1 building," said lawyer Oscar Paras Jr. during a press conference last Friday in Pasay City.

Paras, who has taken over as airport chief while MIAA General Manager Edgardo Manda campaigns for President Arroyo, said they would be taking care of the problem by early next week as complaints from passengers continue to mount.

He explained that the NAIA Terminal 1 building was built in such a way that the distance from the entrance at the front lobby to the X-ray machines is just a few meters.

"The queuing extends up to the stairs going down the terminal," Paras said.

Passengers said the new security measures being implemented by the NAIA security officers has significantly slowed down the check-in process.

Passengers are required to remove belts, cellular phones, wallets containing coins, bags and other metallic objects as well as their shoes, which are then placed in baskets so they can pass through the X-ray machines.

Paras stressed that everyone must follow the security measures amid terrorist threats and attacks worldwide.

He advises passengers to check in early, especially for international flights at the NAIA terminals.

"We simply cannot comprise security," Paras said. Meanwhile, earlier that day, Paras led the ceremonial "switch on" of lighting masts and street lights at the NAIA General Aviation (GenAv) area.

The project, which cost P11 million, includes the installation of eight lighting masts at the GenAv area, six of which are at the south GenAv and two at the north Genav.

Each mast consists of five to eight halide bulbs of 1,500 watts each.

Ten streetlights of 400 watts each are installed around the access road surrounding the hangars.

With the new lights, MIAA will be paying an estimated P157,000 additional expense per month for electricity .

The company tapped to undertake the project was Evercon Builders & Equipment Corp. It was completed within 141 days, from Nov. 3, 2003 to Feb. 21, 2004.