Alvarez directs MIAA officials to decongest NAIA in 45 days

February 14, 2018

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez directed  Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officials to put their operations in order within 45 days and warned airlines to comply with government rules or face possible cancellation of their franchises, a statement from the Office of the Speaker said Wednesday.

During the hearing of the Committee on Transportation, Alvarez said MIAA should take appropriate steps to decongest passenger and air traffic.

Alvarez gave MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal 45 days to implement the directive.

“You know the reason why I also invited the chairman of the franchise committee? Because if you do not follow government rules and regulations, we can always cancel your respective franchises. And we are not joking. We are not threatening anybody. We are serious in promoting the safety, comfort and convenience of the public,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said it is only in the Philippines where mixed use of airports is allowed, where airports designed for domestic traffic also handle international flights while airports designed for international flights also take in domestic flights.

“This will not be allowed. We will follow the correct procedure. If the airport is for domestic flights, it will be for domestic flights only. If there is lack of capacity, so be it. Transfer the other flights to Clark, ” Alvarez said.

He said the main concern of airport authorities should be the safety, comfort and convenience of the riding public.

Lance Gokongwei, Cebu Pacific, Inc. president, said it might take at least a year for his company to comply with such a directive.

“Respectfully sir, given the way we sell tickets one year in advance and also the time it requires to move all our people and (do)  the ground preparations, I think these drastic steps may take over a year of planning,” Gokongwei said.

Alvarez urged the committee to form an oversight body to evaluate what would be accomplished at the end of the deadline.

“If we don't start it now, nothing will happen. If we do it , we may accomplish something,"Alvarez said.

Alvarez also scored the cost-cutting practice of airlines---Cebu Pacific, in particular---that allowed them to enjoy huge profits at the expense of the passengers. One of this is the refusal of Cebu Pacific to use the passenger bridge—also known as the tube—even if available.

Alvarez also accused Cebu Pacific for failing to provide appropriate refund to passengers who failed to board their flights.

He reminded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Manila International Airport Authority that their primary concern is to promote welfare of passengers. DMS