Why Naia’s worst airport

I was not surprised when Naia Terminal 1 was voted the world’s worst airport this year. The “Guide to Sleeping in Airports” said it well when it enumerated the reasons why it was labeled the world’s worst.

One’s impression of a country begins at the airport. It’s the first place you see in a country. Sad to say, there is nothing really attractive in our airport, aside from being overcrowded, filthy and lacking in space. Ours is one which you will not be proud of. Not at par even with our Asian neighbors. Other modern airports, with their wide array of services, do not even require their departing passengers to pay terminal fee and travel tax.

With thousands of passengers leaving daily for abroad and being asked to pay a required amount for travel tax and terminal fee, why is it that our Manila airport, which has domestic and international flight services, cannot be what other modern airports are now, squeaky clean and orderly? It is not even bright at night.

One who has been abroad will surely notice that there is much to be done and improved in our airport. Local passengers who have been to it will inevitably compare it with other airports. Admittedly, ours is not really at par with others in terms of facilities and services.

Once you arrive at our airport there is always a feeling that your baggage will get lost. Security concerns seem to be a perennial problem. I had a terrible experience myself when I received my baggage with its lock mysteriously missing. That only meant there was an attempt to open it and steal what was inside my baggage. My travel companion had the same experience.

—JERRY R. OBLEPIAS,

Earth St. ADB Subd.,

Barangay del Remedio,

San Pablo City, Laguna