MIAA to fliers: No big sendoff, welcome groups, please

Inquirer file photo

WHILE the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is preparing for the expected influx of passengers at the country’s premier airport for the Holy Week break, it asked travelers to do their part, including avoiding coming to the airport with a huge sendoff or welcoming party.

Over the weekend, the MIAA started over the weekend its Oplan Semana Santa 2016 and came up with additional measures to ensure “safe, reliable and convenient” operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) from March 18 to 28.

In a statement, MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado assured the public that the airport management was prepared for the influx of passengers expected to head for the provinces this Holy Week.

According to Honrado, “preparations are in place to make sure that traveling will be as hassle-free as possible this Holy Week. We advise passengers to prepare accordingly as well, especially as they travel to the airport.”

During Holy Week last year, from March 27 to April 6, the MIAA recorded nearly 600,000 departures and over 570,000 arrivals at the four airport terminals.

To help decongest the airport, Honrado asked passengers to minimize the number of people sending them off or welcoming them home.

Every day at the airport, at least five persons send off a passenger and at least 10 people welcome an arrival, bloating pedestrian volume at the terminals. The so-called “barangay” sendoffs and welcomes, generally accepted as part of Filipino culture, are a common sight at the airport and cause crowding at the entrances and exits of the terminals.

Apart from limiting the number of people at the terminals, the MIAA asked travelers to avoid bringing prohibited items to the airport and as much as possible, put belongings in a single carry-on baggage for faster processing at security screening checkpoints.

Honrado also asked passengers to factor in the anticipated heavy volume of vehicles in their travel time to the Naia, advising them to leave for the airport at least three hours before their expected time of departure.

As part of Oplan Semana Santa 2016, Honrado said that the MIAA has coordinated with air carriers for the efficient processing of their passengers at the check-in counters which entails the deployment of more airline personnel.

Likewise other agencies operating at the Naia, such as the Office for Transportation Security;  and Bureaus of Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine have said that they would deploy more personnel to ensure the smooth flow of passengers.

To ease the flow of traffic and  protect passengers, the Airport Police Department (APD) will work closely with the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the traffic enforcement units of Parañaque and Pasay cities.

While the APD and the Avsegroup secure the airport complex and its immediate vicinity, the MMDA and local traffic enforcers will man major roads leading to the terminals. – Jeannette I. Andrade