By Ma. Cristina Arayata
MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), is ready to accommodate the expected high volume of passengers this Holy Week.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, together with officials of operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), made the rounds at NAIA Terminal 3 early Tuesday to assess the airport’s readiness for the influx.
“We’ve seen it is well-prepared. This (preparedness) should be continuous so that smooth travel will be experienced not just during Holy Week but throughout the year,” Dizon said in Filipino.
Fewer people at the immigration counters and faster queues were noticeable during the officials’ morning visit.
The BI earlier announced that 48 additional personnel were deployed to the NAIA to augment manpower during Holy Week.
This month, the BI also opened dedicated counters for overseas Filipino workers at Terminal 3.
Dizon and the other officials also made the rounds at Terminal 3 last week.
NNIC general manager Lito Alvarez said the total daily average passenger volume at the country’s main gateway could reach 155,000 to 157,000.
The San Miguel Corp.-led NNIC expects more than 1.18 million passengers this Holy Week, up 14.23 percent from 1.04 million last year. (PNA)
