Pangilinan calls on Naia officials to solve airport chaos

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Sunday called on transport authorities and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) officials to solve the “chaos” at the airport immediately.

Pangilinan, who is also the president of the Liberal Party, said that the Xiamen Air plane was already removed from the runway, but airport authorities continue to announce a number of canceled flights.

On Sunday alone, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) monitored at least 51 canceled flights due to “excessive delays,” affecting thousands of passengers.

READ: LIST: Canceled flights due to ‘excessive delays’

Meanwhile, 70 international and local flights were affected by the incident.

READ: Naia runway closure canceled 70 local, international flights — Miaa 

According to Pangilinan, airport officials should give assistance to stranded passengers, especially Filipinos working abroad.

“We call on officials of the airport and other related government agencies to help resolve the situation ASAP (as soon as possible), particularly for the stranded passengers who are tired, sleepless, and hungry,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

“Special mention for our leaving or arriving overseas Filipino workers who may have to pay for the delay in terms of visa fees, foregone work days, or even canceled job contracts,” he added.

On Saturday, Senator Loren Legarda slammed the “incompetence” and “inefficiency” of officials of the transportation department and Naia.

“They were so inefficient. The whole airport erupted in chaos after just one plane veered off the runway,” she said. /ee

READ: Transport officials so ‘inefficient,‘ Legarda says after Naia runway mishap