No water at NAIA-1's restrooms

MANILA, Philippines -  After more than a month of digging up various parts of the main arrival area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado said Saturday they may have found the cause of the fluctuating water supply at the NAIA-1’s newly refurbished restrooms.

A team of engineers found leaking pipes, six to eight feet underneath the main arrival area, that are supposed to carry water to other parts of NAIA-1. The 28-year-old terminal, which is not connected to a water provider, is supplied with water extracted by a deep well pump.

Honrado ordered the damaged pipes replaced immediately.

Honrado said the MIAA has been renovating the restrooms at NAIA-1. So far, they have finished refurbishing seven to eight sets of male and female restrooms out of 17 sets at the terminal.

“What we can promise to our traveling public is that within two to three months all our toilets will be fully equipped with toilet paper and soap and that broken plumbing will be fixed, and there’ll be running water,” he said.

Businessman Manny Pangilinan offered to have the terminal connected to Maynilad Water Services Inc., which covers the cities of Pasay and Parañaque. He noticed the diggings when he arrived at the NAIA-1 Saturday from a business trip in Hong Kong.

Pangilinan was accompanied by some Metro Pacific group executives, including Maynilad vice president Patrick Gregorio. While waiting for their service car to pick them up, Pangilinan noticed that the main road leading to the arrival area was closed and being excavated.

Upon learning of the waterless restrooms at NAIA-1, he told Gregorio to meet with Honrado as soon as possible. Sources said they may meet within the week.

Honrado gave newly appointed NAIA-1 manager Dante Basanta two months to fix the water supply problem and provide toilet paper, sanitizer, and soap in every restroom as well as deploy personnel to maintain the cleanliness of the restrooms.

“We are doing everything to refurbish the old facilities of NAIA Terminal. And, we can assure them, both local and foreign travelers, (we will) complete our comfort rooms within the set deadline,” Honrado said.