ATO wants forex booth dismantled

Air Transportation Office (ATO) chief Adelberto Yap wants the foreign exchange booth in the restricted area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport removed, describing it as "a breach of security."

Yap chanced upon the booth set up recently at the transit lounge of the arrival area while on an inspection of security measures at the NAIA’s Terminal 1.

He said he would call the attention of Airport General Manager Edgardo Manda as the booth was "a security breach."

Yap explained that the booth is not only a violation of security, but could be used for "other purposes."

He said that the booth could also change the perception of the US Federal Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Administration that the security measures at the NAIA are better than those in other airports abroad.

The two international organizations have said that they are "satisfied" with the security measures at the NAIA, adding, "they are stricter than those in some airports abroad."

The sudden appearance of a foreign exchange booth at the "sanitized area" of the terminal has spawned complaints from banks allowed to operate only at the terminal lobby, as "unfair competition."

"Whoever owns the foreign exchange booth must have strong connections, otherwise he could not be allowed to set up a business in an area that is "highly restricted," observers said. – Rey Arquiza