The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday inspected the readiness of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with 1.35 million travelers expected for the Undas 2025 period.
According to Darlene Cay’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” DOTr acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez inspected NAIA Terminal 3’s newly opened mezzanine food hall, check-in counters, and self-check-in counter, which can be used soon.
With self-check-in counters, passengers can process their own flight check-in by entering their booking information and scanning their passports to print boarding passes and luggage tags.
Lopez said the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) is working on improvements in order to offer “world-class” facilities at the NAIA.
NNIC chairman Ramon Ang also said that there will be no traffic on the roads leading to the airport, and that there will be fast check-in, on-time schedule of flights, and better customer service.
At least 1.35 million passengers, or 135,000 a day, are expected at NAIA from October 27 until November 5, which is more travelers compared to the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, NNCI general manager Lito Alvarez said there are sufficient chairs for passengers in NAIA Terminal 3.
Alvarez made the statement after Kapuso actress Bianca Umali called for additional chairs after seeing passengers sitting on the floor.
“Nakita niyo naman, ang dami nating renovations na ginagawa so magboard-up tayo sa ibang facilities. Kailangan i-adjust natin mga silya. Maraming upuan, pero ugali nating Pilipino na kahit nakikita nila na may available seats sa malapit na lugar, umuupo sila sa baba. Marami, marami pa tayong uupuan dito,” Alvarez said.
(As you can see, we have a lot of renovations, so we need to board up our other facilities and adjust the chairs. We have a lot of it, but Filipinos prefer to sit on the floor despite available seats.)
DOTr has inspected bus terminals and will also check on ports.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority inspected the area around the Manila North Cemetery and other roads in Metro Manila as part of their preparations for Undas 2025.
Some illegally parked vehicles were towed in Blumentritt, while tables along the sidewalk were confiscated along Aurora Blvd.
Authorities increased the number of police officers deployed to nearly five thousand cemeteries nationwide from over 25,000 to 31,000. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News
