Reforms at Naia, Immigration

COUNTLESS ARE the complaints of air travelers against our airports, from the notorious stinky toilets to arrogant immigration personnel, to unabated smuggling and human trafficking.

But good luck in singling out which specific agency to target, even if the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) ends up absorbing most of the brickbats. Antonio Bautista, senior assistant general manager of MIAA, protests that there are at least 48 independent agencies working out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), including the OTS or Office of Transportation Security which is responsible for ensuring public safety in the country’s airports, ports and terminals.

Naia General Manager Jose Angel “Bodet” Honrado, says Bautista, is pushing for the integration of all the agencies in the airport under a single authority, a move that Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David wholeheartedly supports. Although the retired general and former AFP chief of staff conceded that integration would bring up the question of “control or connivance” among all those entities.

Bautista and David (Honrado had to beg off since he was called to a meeting at the Department of Transportation and Communications) were guests at this week’s “Bulong Pulungan at Sofitel” and as expected were met with a deluge of complaints, observations, suggestions and outright accusations about the perceived shortcomings of both agencies. Although, in fairness, both Bautista and David are new appointees and have not had enough time to produce dramatic results.

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“YOU must clean up the bureau,” was President Aquino’s express instruction to him, David confides, admitting that it is no easy task “cleaning up” one of the government’s more notorious graft-ridden agencies. One of his first acts, he told the Bulong audience, was to “eliminate fixers,” starting with those crowding the lobby of the BI building in Intramuros.

The former AFP chief also spoke of his resolve to go after the estimated 1.8 million unregistered aliens in the country—those who entered the country illegally, are overstaying their visas, or who have failed to secure permanent residency. One big reason: “unregistered aliens are a source of corruption for agents of the bureau,” he noted, adding that if these foreigners are deported or opt to legalize their stay here, then there would be no reason for under-the-table deals or for extortion.

Bautista also spoke of his resolve to end the smuggling of Filipinos abroad, mentioning the creation of a “Task Force on Human Trafficking” that would, among other things, bring an end to the notorious “escort services” at play at both the Naia and in smaller airports around the country.

David and Bautista also spoke of their resolve to do away with “courtesies” extended to so-called VIPs, who are able to elude Customs and security inspections. One case, that of former Rep. Ronald Singson, ended up embarrassing the country since the then congressman was caught with drugs on his person upon his arrival in Hong Kong.

In fairness, said Naia officials, senators, congressmen and Cabinet members have begun voluntarily joining the queues at immigration, customs and at security checkpoints.

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“IN THE spirit of volunteerism and to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal,” Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran and the Caloocan City Filipino-Chinese Fire Prevention Association Inc. will hold the “Intramuros Heritage Run” on May 15.

Though there have been many and regular competitive and fun runs in recent years, the Intramuros Heritage Run is unique as this is the first such activity to be held in historic Intramuros. And May being Heritage Month, the run will coincide with heritage and culture-related activities. Even more important, beneficiaries of the run are such worthy causes as Kaisa’s Alay Medisina, a medical assistance project for indigent patients; the rehabilitation of CCFCFPAI’s volunteer fire station; and Bahay Tsinoy museum which showcases the role of the Chinese community in Philippine life.

Everyone is invited to take part in the 3K, 5K and 10K runs around the Walled City, which organizers hope will build awareness of the importance of Intramuros in our history as well as a tourist, recreation and educational destination.

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KAISA Para Sa Kaunlaran, founded in 1987, is a cause-oriented non-government organization aimed at promoting the integration of Tsinoys into mainstream Philippine society. Kaisa acts as a bridge between two cultures and two generations—bringing Tsinoys into meaningful participation in national concerns and enhancing Filipinos’ understanding of the true role of the ethnic Chinese in Philippine life through the Bahay Tsinoy museum.

CCFCFPAI was organized in 1976 among citizen volunteers to aid the Bureau of Fire Protection in educating the public on fire safety practices, and to provide volunteer fire prevention teams to support the BFP in its fire-fighting mandate.

Registration sites for the Intramuros Heritage Run are located at Toby’s MOA, Toby’s Trinoma, Ortigas Home Depot, Big Hit Marketing (Ongpin Street, near Binondo Church), Cutting Edge 3/F Greenbelt 5, the Kaisa office in Intramuros, and the CCFCFPAI station in Caloocan. For further details, call the Heritage Run secretariat at 5276083, 5266796 or email [email protected].

Registration fee comes with the complimentary event singlet and racebib, and free entrances to Fort Santiago (7 a.m.), Light and Sound Museum (7 a.m.), Casa Manila Museum (7 a.m.), and Bahay Tsinoy Museum (9 a.m.-12 nn).