Terminal One problems at International Airport

[Jung]

This does not bode well. Once again tourism industry shooting themselves in the foot.

What I find interesting is that no private insurance company will even touch it. That should have been their first clue... The building is only 28 years old so it can't be the age which is the problem. Probably cost cutting when they built the thing and I imagine that some contractor got rich off the deal. That person should be brought up on charges now if it is found faulty construction led to the injuries and disrepair of the place.

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Ceiling collapses at one of world's worst airports
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ANN | Thu, May 19 2011

MANILA - THE Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) on Tuesday ordered its engineers to inspect the structural integrity of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after a concrete ceiling plaster collapsed, injuring two employees.

NAIA Terminal 1 manager Dante Basanta identified the victims as Benson Reyes, 20, a baggage loader; and Floserpida Tyson, 42, a security officer of Delta Air.
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Reyes was wounded in the right ankle while Tyson suffered head injury. Both were taken to Makati Medical Center for treatment after they were given first aid at the airport, Basanta said.

According to the airport official, the concrete ceiling plaster at the baggage build-up area collapsed at around 5:20 a.m.

At around 4 p.m. the fiber cement board of third level parapet near Gate 7 fell, damaging a service vehicle of Lufthansa Technic.

He said that Miaa general manager Jose Angel Honrado had immediately ordered the engineering department to inspect the terminal to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"Siguro luma na din kasi," Basanta said of the 30-year-old terminal when asked what caused the twin incidents. "Perhaps it's already showing signs of old age."

NAIA, particularly Terminal 1, was voted one of the world's 10 worst airports and the worst in Asia for 2010 by an interactive website.
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Worst airports in Asia

The ranking was based on reviews of air travellers who complained of, among others, "safety concerns, lack of comfortable seating, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities, no [or few] services to pass the time, bribery, and general hassles of being in the airport."

Honrado said he respected the feedback from travellers, but added he hoped the general public would see the improvements at NAIA.

"We are aware of the deficiencies. We really appreciate the comments and we're trying to correct these things. But please understand that this will take time," he said.

Following mounting complaints from passengers, Miaa has also started simplifying security processes inside Terminal 1.

Basanta said "too much human intervention" in security procedures inside terminal has already been eliminated starting Monday.

Security guards are no longer allowed to check the travel documents of passengers entering the terminal.

But Basanta assured that streamlining the security process doesn't mean they are letting their guards down.

"Security remains tight; we would like to assure an improved passenger convenience but it doesn't mean we're sacrificing security," he said.

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[Jung]

Run-down airport gets surprise visit

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino lll on Wednesday arrived unannounced at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to inspect the collapsed ceiling there that hurt two workers on Tuesday.

With him were airport general manager Jose Angel Honrado, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Transport Secretary Jose de Jesus.

Mr. Aquino also brought an architect to the site to assess the damage and to talk with airport and Transport Department engineers.

Airport sources said the 28-year-old Terminal 1 was falling apart as a result of its age and the damage caused by several earthquakes.

Portions of the terminal’s ceiling fell down on the baggage area around 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday, hurting a baggage loader of Delta Airlines and a female security guard, who was reported still in serious condition on Wednesday.

Parts of the ceiling also collapsed at 3 p.m. the same day, but no one was reported hurt.

Airport sources said that except for the state-run Government Service Insurance System, no other insurance companies were willing to insure Terminal 1 for any property damage.