5 ramp controllers return to Naia jobs

Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said on Monday that five of the 12 ramp controllers who recently quit had been talked into staying at their jobs for the meantime.

“Of the 12, we were able to convince five to withdraw their resignations. So we only lost seven ramp controllers,” Honrado said in an interview.

Most of the ramp controllers were hired on contractual basis under LBP Services Corp. and were paid P13,000 a month.

The ramp controllers guide planes on the ground at the four Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminals. They resigned and reportedly applied for air traffic controller jobs overseas or with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Normal

A CAAP air traffic controller reportedly earns a P28,000 monthly salary.

This leaves the Naia with 39 ramp controllers, Honrado said.

“We are OK, everything is normal and the public has nothing to worry about. We are also moving to have the vacancies filled through our rationalization of technical positions,” he said.

The Miaa requires 12 ramp controllers for each airport terminal working three shifts of eight hours each.

Guides

A ramp controller directs aircraft after landing, guiding pilots to the parking slots and helping them avoid obstacles on the ground. An air traffic controller guides planes in the air, on landing and takeoff.

The Miaa, which operates the Naia, is rationalizing permanent positions but this still needs the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“It’s up to the DBM although I cannot say when these positions will be approved,” the official said.

Previously, Honrado said the rationalization includes three new positions at the Terminal Operations Center for a ramp control supervisor, a shift-in-charge and a ramp controller.