By Ma. Cristina Arayata/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade suggested on Tuesday that Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) workers should help supervise the immigration counters to further ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Tugade made the proposal during his meeting with MIAA general manager Ed Monreal, other airport officials, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, MIAA Public Affairs Department’s officer-in-charge Consuelo Bungag told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
“We couldn’t say the number (of MIAA employees to be deployed) yet since they (officials) just met this afternoon. I’m sure BI (Bureau of Immigration) and MIAA will have to sit down and discuss details of this arrangement,” Bungag said.
Bungag said Tugade suggested that MIAA personnel should take part in the system used by the BI wherein there is always someone to man the counters, especially when there are officers who are on leave, or when there is a huge volume of passengers arriving at the same time.
She said the proposal is not just for the Philippines’ hosting of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November to December.
Bungag said the officials also discussed how to address immigration issues in the airports.
Immigration Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina earlier said the bulk of SEA Games participants is expected to pass through the NAIA.
For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website
