NAIA offers ‘escort’ service

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is now offering escort services at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal I and the Centennial Terminal to passengers willing to pay extra for a totally hassle-free time at the airport.

Officials said the "Meet and Assist Service" (MAS) provides passengers speedy assistance through Customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) areas of the airport, where they can go through special lanes.

Other perks include the use of a special entrance, personalized assistance from a professional public affairs officer, and a lobby pass for issuance to a greeter or well-wisher.

Given on a per flight basis, the MAS has an "individual rate" of P800 and a rate of P500 per head for a group of more than five passengers.

Retired Brig. Gen. Angel Atutubo, MIAA assistant general manager for security and emergency services, said MIAA’s model for the MAS was the "marhaba" system practiced at the Dubai International Airport, where passengers who are willing to pay $10 to $20 can avail of escort services at the airport.

Atutubo said that with MAS, they hope to totally eradicate graft at NAIA Terminals I and II perpetrated by unscrupulous porters and some airport personnel while at the same time raise revenue for the MIAA.

Applicants for MIAA’s MAS are asked to submit a written request to the Public Assistance Division located at the 4th Level of the NAIA Terminal I at least two days before the actual engagement.

The service is also open to all walk-in applicants.

"It is the responsibility of the requesting party to ensure that passengers to be assisted have no derogatory record with the Bureau of Immigration, Customs or any other instrumentality of government," MIAA General Manager Alfonso Cusi said in a statement.