The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will work on a unified pest control policy at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals, its general manager said on Monday, March 4.
Interviewed on DZRH's Dos Por Dos, MIAA General Manager Eric Ines mentioned that he will meet with NAIA terminal contractors to come up with one pest control policy following the reported infestation of bugs and rats at the NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3.
"Mamaya ay magmi-meeting kami ng mga naka-kontrata ng kung ano-anong pest control sa iba-ibang terminal. Mamaya ay pag-uusapan namin kasi ilang araw na kaming nag-uusap [...] Meron tayo [pest management], apat bawat terminal. Iba-iba kaya gusto namin isang policy na lang lahat ng terminal," he said.
Eric Ines, MIAA General Manager, sa namataang daga sa NAIA: Merong mga ginagawa doon sa Terminal 3 sa bandang malapit 1 o 2 sa may bandang dulo. May mga kaunting works doon na in-progress.#DosPorDos#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 3, 2024
LIVE:https://t.co/1oxgmhfjn1 pic.twitter.com/gkB1dJE8xo
Last week, a concern netizen user raised on Facebook that some passengers were bitten by surots or bugs after sitting in certain seats at the NAIA Terminal 1 and 2.
The MIAA management immediately ordered the removal of the seats and ordered enhanced disinfection.
A few days later, another netizen spotted a rat roaming in the ceiling of NAIA Terminal 3's international departure area and posted a short video clip on X (formerly Twitter).
According to Ines, rats probably came out as maintenance is in progress near NAIA Terminal 3.
He suspected that more rats are housing in different parts of all NAIA terminals. "Nakunan ng halos ala una y media ng madaling araw, isa lang 'yon [daga]. Pero may kutob ako na siguro pag inungkat namin ang ibang parte ng Terminal 3, o lahat ng terminal malamang meron 'yan."
The MIAA general manager said he also plans to discuss proper food disposal with terminal vendors to prevent attracting rats and other pests.
Ines vowed to eliminate all surots— whether these are local or international — in all terminal chairs.
He admitted that disinfecting is difficult since the chairs are too heavy. "I'm talking about Terminal 3. Everyday iyan [chairs], binababa. Ang problema lang, ang pagbaba ay napaka-bigat. Everyday, 20, 20 lang na units, apat na seats sa isang unit. Kada 20, binababa, gabi-gabi, from 7pm until midnight. Sa isang set nun, nate-treat ito ng almost three days, pagkatapos baba na ulit. Sa likod ng Terminal 3, tine-treat."
