Airport Authorities: No more passenger "snatching"

ILOILO CITY, Philippines -  – The presence of “barkers” that fight over passengers at the arrival area of the Iloilo Airport is now a thing of the past.

This was what Sr. Supt. Reynaldo Tañada, chief of the Police Center for Aviation Security-Region 6, has told to The Freeman the other day, saying that the arrival area was already off-limit to drivers and dispatchers of the different transport providers in the airport.

“Sa ngayon, hindi niyo na makikita ang mga passengers na sinasalubong ng mga personnel ng different transport providers to the extent na may hawak-hawak silang karton na tumatama pa sa mukha ng mga pasahero kung minsan,” Tañada said.

In last week’s airport security committee meeting, the transport providers’ association and the airport security committee agreed to penalize violators. “If they violate what was agreed upon, we would mete them with a 15-day suspension and corresponding monetary fine,” Tañada said.

Once suspended, the violator will be stripped of his ID and will no longer be allowed to enter the airport.

The meeting was held after two transport groups faced off last week due to allegations of “passenger snatching.”

A representative of a transport group will have a table near the arrival area. If a passenger wishes to get a vehicle, a dispatcher will be called in to assist and bring the passenger to the corresponding vehicle.

Still, different transport groups will occupy their usual parking space at the airport, but under the control and supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. – (FREEMAN)