Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines has issued a stern ultimatum to service contractors following a series of pest sightings at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Contractors must improve sanitation and pest control measures as outlined in their agreements, or risk termination and blacklisting from future bids.
This call to action comes after public outcry over incidents of bedbugs, rats, and cockroaches found at the airport.
In a report from INQUIRER.net, MIAA Head Executive Assistant Chris Noel Bendijo confirmed that the agency is currently conducting thorough performance evaluations of its service providers.
Bendijo said in a radio interview on Saturday:
If we prove that there is negligence on their part, we will check if we will need to cancel their contracts.
In a meeting attended by terminal administrators, service contractors, and health experts from the Bureau of Quarantine and MIAA Medical, Ines expressed his disappointment over recent sightings of pests and insects in Terminals 2 and 3.
He emphasized that the ultimatum serves as a reminder of the accountability clauses in their service agreements with the MIAA.
Ines clarified:
Mag-eexpire na ang kontrata niyo, hindi ko lang hindi iri-renew. Iblablacklist ko pa kayo (Your contracts will expire. I will not only not renew them, but I will also blacklist you).
MIAA plans to revise contract terms, imposing more severe penalties for non-compliance. Contractors will be required to submit regular progress reports, and coordination between contractors and MIAA management will be strengthened.
Contractors have pledged to increase surveillance, disinfection, and manpower. They will also work with MIAA to develop a more effective cleaning and disinfection program with minimal impact on passenger convenience.
Acknowledging concerns surrounding chemical effectiveness, contractors assured MIAA that they use FDA-approved products and change them periodically to address pest resistance.
In related action, Ines will meet with concession heads to discuss stricter monitoring and punitive measures for businesses violating contract terms.
Additionally, MIAA Senior Assistant General Manager Beng Reyes will head the newly-revived Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (IACC), serving as a platform for collaboration between MIAA and its airport partners.
The recent pest sightings have further tarnished NAIA’s reputation, which was already ranked the fourth worst airport in Asia for business travelers. These incidents highlight the immediate need to address sanitation issues at the country’s main international gateway.
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