Photo courtesy of Manila International Airport Authority.
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has belied claims that its previous VIP service allowed passengers to bypass essential airport procedures for a fee of P800 and explained how the service evolved.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Oct. 12, the MIAA emphasized that its VIP service, particularly its Meet-and-Assist Service (MAAS), strictly adhered to Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS) protocols.
MIAA added that it is fully compliant with established airline and government regulations and was designed to enhance passenger experience.
Further, the MIAA said that the service was originally a privilege given free of charge, primarily in the name of public service, to uphold reciprocity arrangements with counterpart agencies and foreign governments.
Later, it was offered to private individuals for a fee under the terms and stipulations set forth under MIAA Memorandum Circular No. 5, Series of 2013, entitled “Airport Courtesies and Accommodation.”
Subsequently, the passenger facilitation process was further developed and formalized through Service Level Agreements (SLA) with border control agencies operating in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who, together with MIAA, were integral members of the NAIA Quality Management System.
These agreements ensured a unified approach to enhancing passenger experience while enforcing the mandates of airport agencies involved in providing courtesies at the airport.
In order to prevent abuse or misuse of the MAAS, the following safeguards were implemented:
1. The entirety of the process, including the very forms used in the MAAS, were enrolled in the NAIA Quality Management System (QMS);
2. Clients were made aware from the very beginning that CIQS policies and procedures are strictly to be complied with and will not be circumvented even with their availment and payment for the MAAS;
3. As a matter of policy, all MAAS were duly coordinated and recorded with Immigration and Customs Officers without exception;
4. The rates for the service were duly approved and regulated by the MIAA Board of Directors and were transparently published in the official gazette, ensuring accountability and public awareness; and
5. Sanctions were provided under MC No. 5 in case of abuse, misuse, or misrepresentation, among others.
“As MIAA transitions into its new role as an airport regulator, it remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the highest standards of safety, security, and professionalism across all its services.” (PIA DMD)
