MIAA eyes processing center for private plane passengers

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 (Photo courtesy of MIAA)

MANILA – In response to a senator’s suggestion to have a processing center at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to ensure so-called VIPs (very important persons) also undergo stringent security measures, the head of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Friday said there is a plan to set up one soon.

MIAA General Manager Eric Ines told the Philippine News Agency he is eyeing the NAIA Terminal 4 in Pasay City as site for general aviation processing, where all arriving and departing VIP passengers would be processed.

“Definitely we could not do this overnight as we are looking at many possible loopholes. But we will have this soon, probably by mid next week,” Ines said in an exclusive interview.

Ines said they need to carefully study the process of putting up the processing center, stressing he couldn’t lock up private hangars.

“The terminal will remain as a domestic terminal. An area in Terminal 4 will have an X-ray and will be manned by Immigration and Customs personnel 24/7,” he said.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, in a recent public hearing, told Ines to have a center where private and chartered planes will be processed.

Tulfo lamented that VIP passengers board planes directly without undergoing the usual inspection process. (PNA)