Airport official praises Naia’s new face

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has commended 36 employees, describing them as the new faces of the country’s gateway.

One of those cited in a program held Monday was a 45-year-old janitress at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) who just last month returned a backpack left by an overseas worker which contained more than P150,000 in cash, jewelry and gadgets.

For her honest deed, Elena Abreo and the 35 other awardees received certificates and were treated to a complimentary breakfast buffet.

“You are the new face of the Naia. Employees who do not steal and unconditionally return things that do not belong to them; who are well-mannered, kind and who are honest,” MIAA senior assistant general manager Vicente Guerzon Jr. said.

He compared the flak the airport has been getting to the heavy downpour brought by Tropical Storm “Egay,” saying Naia has been receiving more than an unusual amount of praise and favorable press because of MIAA’s honest, loyal and model workers.

At the same time, Guerzon took exception to an International Air Transportation Association (IATA) report naming Naia one of the world’s high-risk airports.

However, he pointed out that all issues raised by IATA have already been addressed, adding that even if Iata was not a safety organization, MIAA will look into its concerns.

Abreo, a MIAA employee for over 10 years who is assigned at Naia Terminal 1, found and returned on June 20 a backpack which belonged to an overseas Filipino worker from Saudi Arabia.