NAIA passengers urged to sanitize, observe cough etiquette
Marje Pelayo • January 24, 2020 • 706
Passengers wearing face masks who arrived from Guangzhou, China lineup for immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, 22 January 2020. According to media reports, at least nine people have died and more than 400 people are confirmed infected by a new respiratory virus which was first detected in Wuhan, China. The virus, called the coronavirus, can be passed between humans and has spread to the USA, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO
MANILA, Philippines – The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has ordered terminal managers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to ensure availability at all times of hand sanitizers in all of its four terminals.
During a press briefing on Friday (January 24), the Bureau of Quarantine stressed that it is important to practice good hand hygiene as it is still the best way to protect oneself from acquiring any virus such as the novel coronavirus.
Proper hand hygiene includes hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash.
Likewise, the Bureau also emphasized the strict practice of cough etiquette which includes covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing preferably with disposable tissue.
Proper disposal of the used tissue is further advised.
It is also advised to strengthen one’s immune system by drinking lots of fluid and eating healthy meals.
Meanwhile, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal expressed the agency’s full support to the Bureau of Quarantine in its efforts to mitigate the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“We always recognize each other’s mandates. In this situation, we defer to the Bureau of Quarantine and will submit to their guidelines,” Monreal said.
Quarantine officers are provided with a space for their examination booth located in areas accessible to an exit to the tarmac in case of need to transfer suspected cases to designated hospitals.
MIAA will also provide writing desks for passengers especially those from China to fill-out the health declaration card.
Monreal also ordered terminal police chiefs to strictly sanitize quarantine areas from other airport personnel including the members of media.
MANILA, Philippines – Various branded watches and other commercial goods estimated to worth P1.1 million were seized at the port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Thursday.
In a statement, the BOC said the undeclared items were confiscated on June 29. These were part of a consolidated shipment from the United States of America labeled as “personal effects.”
The seized goods include branded watches such as Michael Kors, Fossils, Anne Klein, Charriol, Invicta, Kate Spade, Diesel and Tommy, as well as bags, wallets, shoes — all in commercial quantity, the bureau said.
The items were intercepted after the shipment underwent X-Ray inspection.
The BOC-NAIA said it has issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the confiscated goods for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The bureau added the case records shall also be referred to the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) for a possible criminal complaint against the personalities behind the foiled smuggling attempt.
MANILA, Philippines — The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is considered as the country’s main gateway, the center of all international and local flights and the largest airport in the Philippines.
For this reason, several lawmakers want to rename it using the Filipino language that will reflect Filipino patriotism.
Representatives Paolo Duterte, Lord Allan Velasco and Eric Go Yap file on Thursday (June 25) House Bill No. 7031 which seeks to rename NAIA to ‘Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas.’
“We want it to reflect the legacy of the Filipino people, our everyday heroes. The name bears no color, no political agenda. It only signifies our warmth as Filipinos in welcoming our own kababayans and foreign visitors,” said House Deputy Speaker and presidential son Rep. Paolo Duterte.
ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Yap, meanwhile, said changing the name will add a ‘homey’ feel not only for returning Filipinos but also for foreign tourists.
“Gusto natin na paglapag pa lang ng eroplano dito, pangalan na agad ng bansa natin ang bubungad sa ating mga balik-bayan pati sa mga turista mula sa ibang bansa (We want the name of our country to welcome our arriving compatriots and foreign guests),” he said.
“Ating iparamdam sa kanila na sila ay nakauwi na sa kanilang tahanan, (Make them feel that they are finally home),” he added.
Marinduque District Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, for his part, said renaming the airport will further strengthen its identity as the country’s premier gateway to the world.
“Renaming it to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas will not only benefit and bolster our brand as a destination hub, but will also strengthen the country’s identity,” Velasco said.
Prior to its current name, NAIA was formerly known as Manila International Airport (MIA) but was renamed in 1987 under Republic Act 6639. MNP (with reports from Vincent Arboleda)
MANILA, Philippines – Sa isang paaralan sa Pasay City pansamantalang mananatili ang mahigit sa 300 stranded na pasahero habang naghihintay ng masasakyan pauwi sa kani-kanilang probinsya.
Ayon sa Department of Transportation (DOTr), dinala muna sa Villamor Air Base Elementary School ang mga stranded na pasahero matapos ang ilang araw na pananatili sa ilalim ng isnag elevated expressway malapit sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Karamihan umano sa mga ito ay naipit sa Metro Manila matapos abutan ng community quarantine habang nag-aasikaso ng mga papeles para sa aplikasyon sa trabaho sa ibayong dagat.
At dahil naantala na ang pag-proseso ng kanilang mga dokumento, pinapauwi na umano muna sila ng manning agency at tatawagan na lang kapag maayos na ang sitwasyon.
Nang payagan ng pamahalaan ang muling pagbubukas ng domestic flights para sa locally-stranded individuals, nagpuntahan ang mga ito sa NAIA bitbit ang kanilang mga ticket.
Ngunit pagdating sa paliparan, saka lang nila nalaman na kanselado pala o kaya ay nalipat ang schedule ng kanilang biyahe.
Bunsod nito, napilitan ang ilan sa kanila na maghintay na lamang malapit sa NAIA dahil wala naman anilang inilaang accommodation ang kanilang agency habang stranded sila sa Metro Manila.
Hindi rin sila pinapayagang makapasok sa airport terminals kung hindi pa nila schedule na umalis.
“Kami po y’ong nag-apply na mag-abroad tapos hindi po natuloy kaya na-cancel po kaya wala na po kaming matirhan. Exactly po talaga flight namin June 9 tapos nag-extend kasi po eh. Tapos wala na kaming mapuntahan kaya dito na lang po kami pumunta,” ang kwento ni Romarie Viola, isa sa mga locally-stranded individuals.
Bilang tugon sa sitwasyon, nagpadala ng mga tauhan ang Philippine Coast Guard at Pasay City Police noong Huwebes ng gabi para ilipat ang mga stranded nating kababayan sa isang paaralan sa Pasay na magsisilbi nilang temporary shelter.
Dito, makakakain sila at makakapag-pahinga ng maayos habang nakikipag-ugnayan sila sa airline companies at kaukulang local government units para sa kanila pag-uwi.
Samantala, nagbabala naman ang DOTr sa manning agencies na magpapabaya sa kanilang mga aplikante at tauhan.
Ayon kay DOTr Assistant Secretary Eymard Eje, maaaring maharap sa kaso ang manning agencies kapag napatunayang tinatakasan nito ang kanilang obligasyon.
“Nakatanggap kami ng mga report na ito, dinadala dito ng mga manning agency nila para tumakas sa kanilang mga obligasyon. Kaya y’ong mga manning agency, binabantaan namin kayo, itigil ninyo na ‘yan dahil ‘pag nahuli namin kayo, sigurado katakot-takot na kaso aabutin ninyo,” ani Eje.
Una nang ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga kaukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan na tutukan ang pagbibigay-ayuda at pagpapauwi sa lalawigan ng mga kababayang naipit sa Metro Manila sa gitna ng community quarantine.
Samantala, muli namang nanawagan ang Manila International Airport Authority sa mga pasahero na huwag pupunta sa mga paliparan kung hindi pa kumpirmado ang kanilang flight. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Asher Cadapan Jr.)
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