By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has boosted transparency and security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with the installation of monitors at the baggage carousels in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Passengers waiting for their baggage at the carousel can now view what is happening to it while on the ground and how the ground handlers take care of them.
Among the common complaints of passengers in 2018 were baggage theft and damaged bags.
MIAA Media Affairs Division head, Jess Martinez, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that the project, “Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of CCTV System / Baggage Monitors at NAIA T1, T2, T3 and T4”, started on November 6 last year and was completed last December 31.
The total cost for this project reached PHP2,117,400.
Under the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR), airlines are responsible for lost or damaged baggage.
Carriers are liable for proven damages up to 100,000 SDR (special drawing rights), a mix of currency values established by the International Monetary Fund, according to Civil Aeronautics Board chief legal officer, Wyrlou Samodio.
Samodio said this is why it is important for passengers to declare if they have valuables in their baggage, and to approach the carrier first if they have complaints over lost or damaged bags.
Despite the fact that the airlines are responsible for the passengers’ baggage, Martinez said MIAA had this project “for transparency and to augment security measures” at the airport.
