Tulfo wants new probe into long lines, faulty e-gates at airports

FILE PHOTO: Passengers fall in line at immigration counters of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in August 2018. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo is seeking a new investigation of the long lines, defective e-gates, and other problems happening at airports nationwide.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 1069, Tulfo aimed to look into inefficiencies at the country’s domestic and international airports. The probe shall be conducted by the Senate committee on public services, which he now heads.

“As reported, many passengers have to endure long lines at check-in counters due to inefficient passenger airlines kiosks which have no sticker papers for printing of baggage tags,”  the senator said in the resolution filed Monday, July 15.

“There are complaints that passengers also have to endure long lines at immigration counters due to alleged lack of immigration personnel or counters and prolonged immigration screenings,”  he added.

Tulfo also cited the “alarming reports” that airport e-gate scanners for arriving passengers often fail to read passports and boarding passes, forcing passengers to queue for manual processing instead and doubling the time spent at the counters.

READ: House inquiry eyed into long queues at airport

And yet, travelers carry the burden of the inconvenience as they have to spend extra money to re-book their tickets and stay extra hours at the airports’ lobby, even when they are not the ones at fault, the senator lamented in the resolution.

Adding to the passengers’ burden, Tulfo said many escalators, walkalators, carousels, and tubes were either poorly operating or non-operational at all.

READ: Senators to airport execs: Work double time, fix faulty aircon units

Tulfo also stressed the need to address the lack of signs at the airport terminals’ arrival and departure areas. He added that passengers must be informed of their rights in cases of missed flights due to immigration lines and other boarding problems.

His resolution likewise sought to inquire into the operations of the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa).

“There is a necessity to evaluate the current situation and operational procedures of the Manila International Airport Authority to identify potential areas for improvement and ensure that international aviation standards are complied with,” Tulfo said.

According to Tulfo, the inquiry aims to recommend necessary reforms that will “modernize and optimize airport operations, meet global standards of excellence, and enhance overall passenger experience.”