MIAA tells service providers: Do better or be blacklisted
FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After meeting with them on Monday, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines issued an ultimatum to housekeeping and pest control service providers assigned to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), saying they must do better or risk ending up on a blacklist.
The meeting between Ines and terminal administrators, service contractors, and health experts from the Bureau of Quarantine and the MIAA’s medical division was aimed at reviewing the current state of sanitation services in all four airport terminals.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ines said he was “disappointed” over the recent sightings of bedbugs (“surot”), rats, and cockroaches at the country’s primary gateway, which were caught on video by netizens. He also warned the housekeeping and pest control service contractors about the accountability clauses in their service agreements with the MIAA, most of which are ending this year.
“Your contracts are about to expire. Aside from not renewing your contracts, I will also blacklist you in other biddings,” Ines said.
To ensure better service, the MIAA said it would revise the terms of reference for its service contracts, “imposing stiffer and higher penalties for liquidated damages.”
READ: Some travelers poke fun at Naia bed bugs, rats: They have IDs
During Monday’s meeting, the contractors were also directed to submit weekly and monthly commitments for work to be done, thus setting up an immediate response mechanism through close coordination between them and the MIAA management.
Contractors’ pledge
The MIAA said the contractors likewise vowed to “increase the frequency of surveillance and disinfection, augment manpower deployment to ensure a round-the-clock response, increase visibility and recommend a work program that would achieve greater impact of cleaning and disinfection methods without affecting seat availability.”
At the same time, they assured airport officials of the effectiveness of the chemicals they were using for disinfection, saying these were being replaced periodically “owing to the ability of pests and insects to develop immunity to chemicals over time.”
Ines is also set to meet with heads of concessions inside Naia within the week to check “their monitoring schedule of business concessions and effectiveness of the current punitive measures against those who violate terms and conditions in their contracts with MIAA.”
He also tasked Beng Reyes, the newly appointed senior assistant general manager, to revive the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (IACC) as its chair.
The IACC conducts monthly meetings with the MIAA and airport agencies and those from the public and private sectors to address issues concerning stakeholders operating in Naia and get recommendations for better customer experience.
