Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon inspected Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday as the country’s main gateway prepares to handle around 1.2 million travelers during the Undas travel period.
‘Nandito po tayo ngayon sa Naia Terminal 1 kasi nga direktiba ng Pangulo na siguraduhin natin na maging safe and comfortable at convenient ang biyahe ng mga kababayan natin,’ Dizon told reporters.
(We are here at Naia Terminal 1 because the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] directed us to ensure safe, comfortable and convenient travel for our countrymen.)
The transportation chief inspected airport facilities, including the arrival area, immigration e-gates and surveillance systems, as authorities stepped up preparations for the holiday rush.
He welcomed improvements at the airport, particularly the renovated arrival area and automated immigration gates, which he said had helped speed up passenger processing.
Airport theft
Dizon, however, also raised concerns over airport security following the recent theft of a tourist’s belongings worth millions of pesos.
He said the suspect had been arrested and the stolen items recovered, adding that he had directed airport officials to strengthen surveillance measures to prevent similar incidents.
The transportation chief also said he would recommend expanding access to automated immigration e-gates to more passengers to help ease congestion.
Meanwhile, airport operator New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) earlier projected that around 1.25 million passengers would pass through Naia from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4, with Friday expected to be the busiest day.
About 149,000 passengers were expected to use the airport on Friday alone, according to NNIC.
The airport operator said it would deploy additional security personnel, increase police and K-9 patrols, and maintain round-the-clock monitoring of airport operations during the holiday period.
Public assistance desks would also operate 24 hours a day at the arrival and departure areas of the airport’s three terminals.