Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Terminal 3. (Image from MIAA)
MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has ordered the removal of the initial security screening at major airports in the country in order to ease travels, an official said on Friday.
Recently, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was called the third most stressful airport in Asia according to a travel website. One of the factors is the supposedly excessive security lines.
READ: NAIA third most stressful airport in Asia – study
“Following international practice, Secretary Bautista has directed the removal of initial security screening to improve the convenience of our airport users and process of going through our airports,” said Department of Transport (DOTr) undersecretary Timothy John Batan on ANC.
Batan did not specify when this was implemented but said that the change is noticeable “for those who have used our airports recently.”
“Before, you would have to go through a security screening, line up outside the airport before entering the terminals,” he explained.
When asked on how the DOTr was addressing passengers who needed to transfer between flights, he said that the airlines typically provided buses for them.
Batan also said that they are working with the Department of Science and Technology to look for ways to expand the capacity of the Manila International Airport and better connect the four terminals.