Goodbyes don’t have to be lonely.
The east and west wings of the departure area at Ninoy Aquino International Airport can now accommodate big crowds who want to send off OFWs, as the Manila International Airport Authority formally opened a place for goodbyes at the country’s premier gateway
It is a distinct Filipino tradition for busloads of well-wishers to send off their loved ones leaving the country, that is no exaggeration.
“Actually, this was built for the benefit of passengers. People are sending them off so we have two areas (for them),” said the MIAA general manager, Ed Monreal.
SEE: NAIA Terminal 1 before and after pics
In addition to the well-wishers area, the west wing also houses a one-stop shop for OFWs, maintained by government agencies, including the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
Two banks and a restautant will also open at the west wing, Inquirer.net reports.
“These are just options for our passengers. They can still stay outside, but they can stay indoors. Let’s just hope that these areas don’t fill up too much and get crammed,” he said.
The construction of the area started in March this year, with a budget of PHP7.2M. Each wing can accommodate about 300 people.
Prior to the construction of the sendoff areas, well-wishers said their goodbyes outside Naia Terminal 1, often causing a congestion.
The 30-year old terminal sees as an average annual volume of 4 million departing passengers on around 20,000 international flights.
