House to conduct inquiry on NAIA's 'worst' tag

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on transportation is set to conduct an inquiry into the problems besetting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The inquiry was prompted by House Resolution 1836 filed by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, who cited various blogs and travel guides as well as user reviews that were damaging to the reputation of the country because of the alleged sad state of the airport and reports of corruption by its personnel.

“This (worst airport in the world tag) is just the latest of repeated complaints and comments on the defects of NAIA and mismanagement of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). Despite recurring criticism, the government, for the last several administrations, had apparently failed to address said problems,” Casiño said.

He said while MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado gave assurance that much has been done to improve NAIA and that extortion has already been resolved, “problems still exist.”

“There have been recent reports of travelers being accused of having fake documents, only to be allowed to leave later after being forced to hand out bribe money,” the lawmaker said.

Casiño also cited reports of misuse of terminal fees of the NAIA and that the MIAA management must be questioned on its various financial decisions.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ralph Recto said that the government should just consider refurbishing NAIA Terminal 1 instead of selling it.

He said the planned sale of NAIA 1 will be a waste of revenues as well as efforts to build the structure.

“And if we let a private investor take over NAIA 1, this would surely result to higher airport fees and may pose some security risks,” Recto said.

“Not all the woes of government could be remedied by running to the private sector,” he added.

He said the revenues from the operation of NAIA 1 should instead be used to refurbish the airport particularly its toilets, food courts and lounges. He said the ground crew should also undergo a mandatory crash course on good manners and right conduct with an elective on anti-tongpats or bribes.

Recto said the DOTC should also work on the lifting of the country’s blacklisting by the United States and European aviation agencies while pursuing the upgrading of NAIA 1.

“A great airport is defined by its efficient service and warm people,” he said.

The senator said NAIA 1 should be saved as a national treasure considering that it was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin.

“Are we now desecrating the work of a national artist just because a blog of airport tambays have a different view of what is beautiful?” Recto said. – With Marvin Sy