In a message to InsiderPH, San Miguel chair and CEO Ramon Ang said only one of the five installed baggage handling and explosive detection systems is operational at NAIA’s Terminal 3, the largest of NAIA’s four terminals.
“Four [are] down out of five,” he said. “Only one unit is operational.”
Ang said San Miguel was made aware of the problem last June, three months before the conglomerate took over NAIA after winning a bid for a 15-year management contract of the country’s main aviation gateway
“SMC was aware of the problem since June, so we ordered baggage handling systems and explosive detection systems in July,” he said, adding that the new systems will take one whole year to install.
Because of this, Ang said these occasional baggage handling problems for departing passengers may persist until July 2025.
He explained, however, that it will not be an issue for passengers arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 because the baggage handling system for arrivals is a “simple conveyor, so no problem.”
“We ordered [the new system] on July 5, 2024,” the San Miguel head stressed.
Ang said the situation “will improve starting tomorrow because we hired extra people to do it manually” pending the installation of the new equipment.
“Baggage handling systems of Terminal 3 have been problematic for years,” he added.
NNIC said in an earlier statement that it is working closely with Cebu Pacific to implement contingency measures, including additional manpower and alternative protocols, to address the issue and minimize inconvenience to passengers.
This move follows disruptions in Terminal 3, where a malfunction in the aging system caused delays in processing checked-in luggage.
Senior Reporter
