Updated:2024-12-19 14:42 Views:165
While San Miguel group-led New Naia Infra Corp. is rushing to execute its master plan to improve operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)milyon88, all eyes are on the government to deliver its fair share.
For people who travel overseas, whether inbound or outbound, one of the major pain points at Naia is that immigration lines can sometimes go crazy. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has already expanded the pool of immigration officers at Naia, but there’s only so much traffic that human personnel can handle.
READ: BIZ BUZZ: Naia to bid turboprops adieu
Article continues after this advertisementFive years ago, the BI started installing e-gates to speed up the immigration arrival clearing process. Earlier this year, plans were announced to procure additional e-gates, with an estimate that by 2026, a total of 43 e-gates would be installed nationwide in a project estimated to cost P1.9 billion. These e-gates are supposed to cut processing time to as low as eight seconds per passenger, comparable with airports in other countries.
FEATURED STORIES BUSINESS Philippines ranks 2nd in cryptocurrency ownership globally — study BUSINESS BIZ BUZZ: Naia e-gates rollout delayed BUSINESS Meralco to refund customers P987MBut where are the additional e-gates?
In an announcement Saturday, SSS said the new OIC succeeded its former president, Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, who resigned on October 3 to run for a House seat under the SSS-GSIS Pensyonado Partylist.
The aviation giant must “reset our workforce levels to align with our financial reality,” Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg said, adding that the cuts of 17,000 positions globally “will include executives, managers and employees.”
“It’s been canceled,” a well-placed industry source told Biz Buzz, referring to the P1.9-billion procurement. “Supposedly, they should have been deployed this December.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe project is now being recalibrated, but there’s a catch. “We heard that the budget is now five times higher,” the source added.
Article continues after this advertisementInstead of December, passengers may have to wait until late 2025 to benefit from these costlier (and hopefully greater in number) e-gates. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
Article continues after this advertisement Weeding out DA underperformersTwo high-ranking officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) may bid the agency goodbye in the next six months or so … if they don’t step up to the plate.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. revealed that these high-ranking officials are in hot water for “not performing as expected” but stopped short of disclosing their names.
Article continues after this advertisement“You have to give them a chance,” he said in an interview. “Kinausap na natin. Hindi naman grabe, parang sanay lang ako sa … (I’ve already talked to them. It’s not that bad. I’m used to…) my expectations are quite high. So, they fell short…”
slots for funThey would be given one last chance to shape up or ship out.
“Patapos na iyong taon; iyong mga iba mong kailangang tapusin, needed my intervention. Despite my busy, busy schedule, I have to stop other things para tutukan ko at mapa-approve at mapa-pirmahan lahat ng kailangan. Bakit last minute?” (The year is ending; they have a lot of tasks to complete but they need my intervention. Despite my busy, busy schedule, I have to stop other things to focus on them, getting everything approved and signed. Why at the last minute?)” he lamented to reporters.
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With the exception of these two officialsmilyon88, he is generally pleased with the dream organization he has assembled to lead the DA. —Jordeene B. Lagare
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