Influx of passengers at PITX, NAIA ahead of Undas 2024

Passengers have started trooping to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) ahead of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

In Raffy Tima’s report Wednesday on Saksi, PITX Corporate Affairs head Jason Salvador said the influx of passengers is normal since trips to Bicol have resumed after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine left the country.

“Bukas yung talagang peak na natin baka umabot tayo ng 200,000,” Salvador said.

(We expect the peak will be tomorrow with about 200,000 passengers.)

He added PITX has been monitoring Super Typhoon Leon so it could issue advisories of affected trips.

“Dito pa lang nagmomonitor na tayo kung okay yung kondisyon ng mga pupuntahan nila upang sa ganun pag hindi puwede pipigilan na natin para may option yung mga kapuso natin na umuwi if ever,” Salavador said.

(We are monitoring the conditions of our passengers' destinations so if it is not possible to proceed we could cancel early and they have the option to return home.)

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista inspected PITX on Wednesday afternoon along with the officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office and Highway Patrol Group.

To ensure the safety of passengers, some bus drivers underwent drug testing. Travel documents of the buses were also checked.

Meanwhile, authorities discovered that a bus had a wrong route and addressed it immediately.

“Sa bawat major terminal, merong taga LTFRB na nag iissue ng special permit sa mga areas na kukulangin po ng buses na bibiyahe,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz said.

(At every major terminal, there are LTFRB personnel who can issue special permits for areas that lack buses.)

Bautista also inspected NAIA where many departing passengers were observed in its three terminals 

“Itong Undas, starting October 29, nasa 130,000 (passengers na) and we’re expecting na tataas ito ng 132,000 to 135,000 a day,” Bautista said.

(In line with All Saints’ Day, starting October 29, there were already 130,000 passengers and we’re expecting the number to increase to 132,000 to 135,000 a day.)

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) admitted that many of the airport’s facilities are in need of repair, including the baggage handling system that recently malfunctioned.

The NNIC said NAIA and its equipment are too old, and that repairs took longer because of government bureaucracy.

“Ito naman ang maipagmamalaki namin sa private sector, mabilis ang procurement kaya sa tingin ko madali natin ma aadress,” said Angelito Alvarez, NNIC general manager.

(The private sector can take pride in its efficient procurement so I think we can quickly address the rehabilitation of the airport.)

The NNIC plans to fix the aerobridges where passengers pass from aircraft to the terminal, which cause delays in the transfer passengers during bad weather.

Half of NAIA's air conditioners should also be replaced, the NNIC said.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News