Your Say: Pinoys concur, NAIA-1 must be worst airport in the world

I thought with all the publicity visiting the airport for inspection on how to improve and remove its tag as being the worst is already in placed and on going. What is happening? I remember when this issue was first raised there was even suggestions to transfer the airport. A plain and simple case of Ningas Cogon attitude....

The airport needs a long overdue rehabilitation, it should be turned over to a private entity. Its sad this is the window to the world for filipinos and we are not on top of it.

I have travelled through NAIA for over 10 years. I'm not a Philippine national but to me the most disturbing fact about NAIA is the immigration harrassment and outright blackmail of departing Filipino citizens.

 

Every day hundreds of Filipinos are denied departure on the basis of insufficient documents. They are subjected to extensive interrogations as to their purpose of travel and Immigration officers can and do deny departure at will. These people are not criminals but are treated as such for the mere fact that they want to travel abroad.

 

The immigration office provides no guidelines or advice on what documents are required and one cannot even get to talk to them at the airports unless you are actually travelling abroad that day.

 

How are people supposed to comply with requirements that are not made public and in who's interest are they acting ?

 

During these interrogations a suggestion is often made that a fee will ensure safe passage. This is no small fee - several people have confirmed it to be P 20.000. There is a person called AL hanging around NAIA who provides such services for Filipinos who have been denied departure.

 

I have documented several cases and filed a complaint directly to Chief Assistant Supervisor Mr Manahan. No response was ever given and even in a face 2 face conversation Mr Manahan refused to provide any clear guidelines as to what is required to allow a Filipino to travel.

 

There are also no checks and balances in place. No case file is opened if someone is denied boarding, the officers do not have to justify their action and above all there is no recourse or chance for the traveller to dispute the decision. Those who have done so while questioned,have been issued threats of never being able to leave Philippines and/or slapped with additional requirements to be allowed to travel.

 

This action is retaliatory and a clear case of abuse of power by the immigration officers.

 

I thought only Cubans and North Koreans have to try to escape their national borders but it seems lately that Filipinos can be added to that sad list.

Last month nga ng umalis ako, sinita ako ng x-ray operator (sa may entrance door) kasi may dala daw akong sigarilyo. Ang tanong nya "Sir, ilan pong rim ng sigarilyo dala nyo?", sagot ko, 2 at sumagot sya "akala ko kasi 3 eh, bawal po kasi ang tatlo".... di ko lang

maintindihan,noong galing ako ng abroad at may nagdala ako ng 5 rim ng sigarilyo hindi naman ako tinanong, even sa custom declaration...

 

Walang standard ang NAIA 1, subjective lahat kung sinong empleyado ang kausap mo at kung may mga hidden agenda/desire sila sa iyo...malas mo lang kung ikaw ang napagtripan nila...

hindi lang mga ofws ang nagrereklamo sa airport natin pati mga turista npka unfriendly airport nyang NAIA bukod sa pangit na at bulok ang serbisyo hindi kanais nais ,usually pag nsa airport ka gusto mo gumala gala muna magpahinga sa mga resting at smoking lounges,kumain sa resto lalo na pag mahaba pa ang inaantay mo for your flight,etong naia the only airport i know na madaming sinisingil like terminal fee hindi kanais nais,lahat pag nsa loob ng NAIA wala ng gana maglibot gusto na agad makaalis

"That's their opinion, said MIAA media affairs chief Consuelo Bungag. “From our end, we know we are doing our best to improve both the facilities and services here at the airport." Ha ha ha, apparently passengers' opinions don't matter. 

Try niyo kayang magbiyahe sa India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan para makita ninyo kung anong klase ang airport nila. Nakikita niyo lang siguro Changi, Chek Lak Kok at iba pang magagandang airport.

Recommend ko lang subukan niyo kung hindi kayo masuka o mandiri. Maganda ang mga comments pero mas maganda kung may mga recommendation although unsolicited ayos iyan. Mga Pinoy minsan nakarating lang sa maunlad na bansa lalaiitin ang sariling bansa nakakalungkot masaya ba kayo sa walang sawang pagbatikos.Kung kayo kaya ang nakaupo ano ang gagawin ninyo?

There's no place like home mahalin natin ang Pilipinas. God bless Philippines.

— JM Reyes (@jmreyes816) October 20, 2012