Naia pest control, housekeeping providers told to shape up or ship out

FILE PHOTO: The pest control and housekeeping contractors for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) are told to improve their performance or risk getting blacklisted from future biddings. The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) issued the ultimatum to the service providers following recent reports of bed bugs and rats at Naia. Image from MIAA

MANILA, Philippines — The pest control and housekeeping contractors for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) were told to improve their performance or risk getting blacklisted from future biddings.

The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) said Tuesday that most of the pest control and housekeeping service providers’ contracts are due to expire this year.

The airport administrator’s ultimatum to the pest control and housekeeping contractors was prompted by recent reports of bed bugs and rats at Naia.

READ: Some Naia passengers opt not to be pestered by bed bugs, rats

“Your contract is about to expire, and I not only won’t renew it, but I will also blacklist you,” Maia General Manager Eric Ines told service contractors in a statement.

According to the Miaa, terminal administration groups were instructed to deploy more inspectors to monitor the work of the service contractors and re-evaluate the effectiveness of their standards of procedures in line with the increasing volume of passengers at Naia.

“Furthermore, the Miaa is set to revise the Terms of Reference for service contracts, imposing stiffer and higher penalties for liquidated damages. Contractors are asked to submit weekly and monthly commitments of work to be done, establishing an immediate response mechanism through close coordination between contractors and Miaa management,” it added.

READ: Bed bugs, rat at NAIA ‘untypical’ but may harm tourism – Grace Poe 

In the statement, Ines said the contractors committed to increasing the frequency of surveillance and disinfection at Naia’s terminals.

They likewise promised to ensure a “round-the-clock” response, increase their visibility at the airport, and recommend a work program that could improve cleaning and disinfection methods without affecting seat availability.

This week, Ines is set to meet with heads of concessionaires that include restaurants within the airport’s terminals to review their monitoring schedule and the effectiveness of current punitive measures against contractors who violate their contracts with Miaa.

Recently, some passengers posted photos and videos of bed bugs, cockroaches, and rats at Naia’s terminals on social media.

Overseas Filipino workers party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino has since pushed for a legislative probe into the issue.