MIAA reminds passengers not to go to NAIA if they don’t have confirmed flights

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Thursday told locally stranded individuals (LSIs) hoping to go back to their home provinces not to proceed to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) unless they have confirmed flights.

In a statement, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said the NAIA management was overwhelmed yesterday when the LSIs came in groups and stayed overnight at the NAIA hoping to secure walk-in flight bookings.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said domestic flights are allowed between areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) provided proper coordination is done with the concerned LGUs.

Some LGUs, however, are not keen on allowing the resumption of domestic flights, resulting in flight cancellations and passengers getting stranded in airports.

On Wednesday, local airlines decried what they described as "unclear" guidelines of some local governments on domestic flights resumption in their area.

“Inquiries made with the LSIs revealed that they have a leader who told them to proceed to Terminal 2 because there was a flight that would bring them home to various parts of Visayas and Mindanao,” Monreal said.

“They refused to leave the Terminal saying they will just wait for a flight whenever it becomes available,” he said.

The airport chief expressed concern that LSIs continued and prolonged stay outside the airport building pose risk to their health.

He appealed to other LSIs to make sure they have confirmed booking and valid tickets for the day to avoid going through the same experience.

For the meantime, Monreal said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administra is providing meals and the MIAA is distributing personal care kits to the LSIs. -MDM, GMA News