MIAA wants to rid Naia of squatters

After kites and birds, airport officials now want to clear the areas around Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) of illegal settlers.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado wants to relocate informal settlers living near the Naia for their own safety.

In particular, the MIAA is toying with the idea of clearing at least a 4 km radius near the Naia and resettling the residents to a safer location.

“Talks have been underway even under the past administration but the problem now is where to relocate them,” said Joseph Agustin, airport grounds operations and safety division chief.

The Naia’s four terminals—the Manila Domestic Airport and Terminals 1 to 3 are located in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque. The Naia’s runways traverse through the cities of Pasay, Parañaque and Taguig.

Agustin estimated that around 800 families live in shanties on the fringes of the Naia, particularly near the Parañaque side of the airport.

“The MIAA is seriously studying the relocation. It’s for the settlers’ own safety, as well as the airport’s safety and security as well,” Agustin added.

In an interview, he pointed out that illegal settlers’ shanties have also become an “eyesore” especially when one flies into the Naia and sees the shanties from the airplane.

“It’s really an international concern, the shanties are an eyesore to our incoming visitors so we are willing to take concrete steps to relocate them,” the official said.

But the MIAA said it is still looking for a suitable relocation site for the affected residents.