More than 100,000 passengers are expected to travel through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) daily amid the long weekend for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BKSE) and the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
In Joseph Morong’s Friday report on “24 Oras,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and other transport officials inspected NAIA for the expected influx of travelers starting October 27.
A long line was seen at the security check at the airport due to the number of passengers traveling outside the country.
“Kailangan natin dito ay magdagdag lang siguro ng personnel ang Office for Transportation Security. Ganun ang ginagawa natin ngayon lalo na yung panahon na ‘to,” said Bautista.
(We need to add more OTS personnel. That’s what we are doing.)
Improvements were also observed at the NAIA, with the conveyor belts and air-conditioning system fixed.
“Within three months naging 90% na ang health ng ating mga baggage conveyor system,” said Manila International Airport Authority Officer-in-charge General Manager Bryan Co.
(Within three months, the health of the baggage conveyor system went up to 90%.)
“When we say travel experience ng pasahero hindi lang naman visual, it’s also other senses, sensory. Kanina sa terminal 1 sa departures, Christmas scent,” Co said.
(When we say travel experience, it’s not just visual but also other senses, sensory. The scent in Terminal 1 earlier was Christmas-themed.)
The Transportation Department expects around one million passengers will use public transportation such as buses, planes, and marine vessels daily to travel to provinces amid the long break.
With this, Bautista reminded commuters to head to ports and terminals early to ensure safe and convenient travel.
Co, for his part, advised air passengers to check their flights and pay travel taxes online. He also reminded inbound travelers to arrive at the airport two hours ahead of their flight time and outbound passengers three hours ahead. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News
