MANILA — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has terminated its contract Friday with airport service provider MIASCOR Groundhandling Corporation following a luggage theft incident at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
In a letter addressed to MIASCOR President Fidel Harmon Reyes dated January 19, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal ordered the company to vacate the airport complex and its terminals within 60 days.
“Following the expiration of the Lease and Concession Agreement dated July 8, 2014 between the MIAA and MIASCOR last March 31, 2017, please be advised that the Agreement shall no longer be renewed,” according to Monreal.
The initiative comes after President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered aviation and transport officials to terminate the contract in the wake of the recent baggage pilferage incident involving a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who lost PHP84,000 at the Clark Airport.
The President has likewise warned that he will fire airport officials if similar incidents of theft will happen again.
Six employees of MIASCOR assigned at the Clark International Airport were terminated and are facing administrative charges due to the incident.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has released new guidelines for personnel in charge of handling baggages of passengers.
From now on, personnel uniforms must not have pockets and boots or shoes must not be loose.
Concerned personnel are likewise no longer allowed to bring or use cellphones nor wear jewelry while on duty.
Tugade also ordered baggage handlers to wear body cameras. Airport officials were asked to produce an initial 100 cameras, while security companies were also directed to buy their own.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific assured its passengers that they will be coordinating with MIAA and MIASCOR to ensure smooth transition of airport ground services following the termination of the contract.
“The safety and security of our passengers is our highest priority. We are confident that with the assistance of the airport authorities and other stakeholders that there will be no interruption to service continuity,” the airline said in a statement. (PNA)
