Cebu airport readies ‘contactless’ interaction with travelers

CEBU CITY –– The Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) wants a “contactless” system of interacting with passengers as it prepares to resume operations when travel restrictions are eased up.

The airport has installed several self-check-in kiosks that use a Quick Response code scanner so that passengers will no longer use the touchscreens of the machines.

The printouts can be made through the passengers’ mobile phones.

Glass installations were also mounted at the check-in counters to protect both the staff and the passengers.

At strategic areas in the airport, some 60 automated hand sanitizers have also been placed. Passengers only need to place their hand on the boxed dispenser and the sensors will spray sanitizers automatically.

This way, the airport security will no longer manually spray the hand of the passengers. MCIA’s Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing Laboratory is expected to be operational before June 8 to cater mostly to returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation chief executive advisor Andrew Harrison, the COVID-19 testing facility is being upgraded from the initial 900 tests per day to 2,000 per day to accommodate more passengers, especially OFWs.

The Department of Health, he said, promised to accredit them before June 8.

The PCR testing booths were set up at the airport’s Terminal 2.

After swab samples are taken, the OFWs will be transferred to designated quarantine facilities by the local government units.

The test results are expected to be available after 24 hours.

Funds to build the testing facility were taken from the airport’s private operator, the GMCAC, which also hired a private laboratory firm to man the PCR testing.