NAIA expects 1 million travellers amid Holy Week exodus

More than one million passengers are expected at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) amid the expected exodus of travelers for the Holy Week break. 

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s “24 Oras” report Friday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said preparations are underway for the anticipated increase in volume of passengers.

The exodus is expected to peak on Holy Wednesday, March 27. 

"We are anticipating above one million na passengers po natin. We will be manning itong mga Oplan helpdesk natin. So definitely per terminal, meron po tayong key official,” MIAA spokesperson Chris Bendijo said.

(We are anticipating above one million passengers. We will be manning our helpdesk so definitely there will be a key official per terminal.)

“So that we can fix our processes our protocols, so that as much as possible we want to have fast queuing so wala po tayong mga long lines during this Semana Santa (so we won’t have long lines amid the Holy Week),” Bendijo said. 

PITX

At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), at least 130,000 passengers are expected to troop to the land terminal for the last Friday before the Holy Week — higher than its normal passenger volume of 110,000. 

The PITX management sees at least 1.7 million passengers use the terminal from March 22 to March 29, reaching its peak on Holy Wednesday. 

“Agahan natin ang pagbili ng ticket. Magbook nang maaga and of course, pagka-Holy Week na hangga't maaari medyo bawas-bawasan natin 'yung mga bagahe natin. Mas maganda kung mag-travel light sila. Napakahirap kung ang dami mong bitbit,” said PITX Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Head Jason Salvador. 

(Let us book our tickets early and bring less baggage. It’s better to travel light.)

“Maging vigilant din sila sa kanilang mga surroundings. Nandito yung PNP, mga ibang ahensya ng gobyerno pero it pays to be vigilant as well,” added Salvador. 

(We also advise passengers to be vigilant of their surroundings. The police and other government agencies are here but it pays to be vigilant as well.)

Meanwhile, fewer passengers were seen at the Araneta City Bus Port in Quezon City but the management expects more travelers to arrive during the Holy Week. 

To ensure passenger safety, the LTFRB instructed its regional offices to inspect terminals and conduct random drug testing. It also extended its special permit for buses until April 14. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News