Airlines Sign Pledge of Commitment to Support NAIA Decongestion, Develop Sangley Airport, and Improve Passenger Convenience

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In a monumental act of unity and proof of faith in government, five (5) Philippine-based airline operators committed to support the decongestion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), develop other gateways in the country particularly Sangley Airport in Cavite, and improve the convenience of the air-riding public, through the signing of the Pledge of Commitment and Support today, 26 June 2019, in Pasay City.

The initiative proceeds from President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to decongest the country's main gateway and enhance the comfort and convenience of air passengers.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat led the signing ceremony, which was participated by Cebu Air President and CEO Lance Gokongwei, AirAsia President and CEO Dexter Comendador, Philippine Airlines Officer-in-Charge Vivienne Tan, PAL Express President Bonifacio Sam, and CebGo Vice President for Corporate Affairs Paterno Mantaring Jr., who attended on behalf of CebGo President and CEO Alexander Lao, as signatories.

Secretary Tugade commended the support of the airlines, noting their role in enhancing the travel experience of airport users.

“We thank Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, PAL Express, and CebGo for uniting in this goal of providing comfort to the Filipino people. This initiative is a testament to the many ways the government and private sector can work together to solve problems. However, I am expecting that this commitment will not just remain a piece of paper, but will be implemented effectively and felt immediately by our passengers,” Secretary Tugade expressed.

The transportation chief likewise expressed gratitude to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco, and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla for their relentless pursuit of improving aviation and airport service for the Filipino people.

“We would not be here today without the solidarity and hard work of our air sector. It is through their efforts that we are elevating the level of service to provide a comfortable life to Filipinos,” Secretary Tugade said.

The commitment aims to address the growing demands for air travel in the Philippines, particularly at the NAIA. Since prior 2016 until 2018, NAIA’s annual passenger traffic increased from 36.5 million to 45 million, which is 130% of its design capacity. Number of flights rose by 5.75%, resulting in an escalated utilization of airport slots per hour by 22.2%, or from 36 to 44.

In her message, DOT Secretary Puyat highlighted the importance of transport infrastructure projects and initiatives in tourism.

“We thank DOTr Secretary Tugade for making this signing of commitment possible. DOTr is a close partner of the Department of Tourism in our vision to improve the tourism sector. The life blood of Philippine tourism is accessibility and connectivity. Infrastructure is critical in the continuing growth and sustainable development of our country’s tourism. We believe that we need to match the excellent hospitality of the Filipino people with the same level of infrastructure and facilities,” Secretary Puyat said.


Improvement of On-Time Performance

Under the Pledge of Commitment, signatories committed to review the flight operations of their respective airline companies to rationalize flight numbers, aircraft movement and rotation, as well as the usage of slots and flying rights, to improve on-time performance.

Signatories also committed to support the development of mechanisms of discipline in the event of flight aberrations within their control. They will cooperate with government and other regulatory agencies that have the authority to determine actionable or punishable occurrences.


Development of other airports

Additionally, signatories pledged to support the development and promotion of other gateways especially Sangley Airport in Cavite for possible viable operations to decongest NAIA.

Secretary Tugade has ordered the accelerated construction of additional facilities at Sangley Airport to 24/7 to meet the operational timeline set by President Duterte for the military air base to commence general aviation and turboprop operations in November of this year.


Improved Passenger Convenience

To raise the level of comfort and convenience of passengers at the NAIA, signatories shall disseminate accurate and timely information to the public through all available avenues and platforms, including social media and public announcement systems inside terminals and even while inside the aircraft, in instances of flight delays and cancellations.

They shall provide and distribute meals, snacks, and refreshments to passengers, consistent with the Air Passenger Bill of Rights.

Likewise, signatories should endeavor to support the operation of DOTr Malasakit Help Desks in various airports, through the distribution of their own “Malasakit Kits” to passengers, whenever applicable. These kits contain essential travel items such as, but not limited to, drinks, light snacks, wet wipes, and hand sanitizers, among others.

Following the signing of the pledge, airline officials reiterated their commitment to help improve the country’s aviation and airport service.

“We thank everyone here for the collaboration and support to enable us reach the common ground and work towards a common goal, that is, to make the air travel convenient to all Filipinos. We accept responsibility and accountability to provide positive and collaborative solution,” Gokongwei said.

“We need to have a balance between safety and efficiency for full on-time performance. Too much of one will mean failure of the other. It is imperative that we not only do the right things, but we should also do things right,” Comendador emphasized.

“We lean to support each and everyone, not just in air transportation, but the rest of the nation. I hope that PAL will be part of the private entity that can help the government, including the President, in putting forward the Philippines and make a very good future ahead of us,” Tan added.

Top 6 Things You Should Know About Medanta Hospital

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Medanta-The Medicity is a multi-specialty medical institute located in Gurgaon, Haryana. The hospital has been specifically modelled to match the standards of medical institutes such as Stanford University Medical Center in the US and Mayo clinic. Since its inception in 2009, the hospital has seen rapid growth and saved the lives of many. Medanta Hospital is one of its kinds and offers unmatched healthcare services to its patients. Some of the best things about Medanta Hospital are –

Unmatched health care facilities

World Class Infrastructure – Medanta has a massive 2.1 million sq. ft. campus with more than 1,600 beds and housing facility. Each floor in the hospital is dedicated to specialization so that nothing is complicated or mismanaged. To ensure that patients feel the visual connection with the outside environment every patient space has windows which allow the natural light to seep in. This helps to cue the patients time cycles into the natural cycle of the sun.

Best team of doctors

The hospital has the most efficient team of doctors who are well-qualified, trained and are known for developing innovative and revolutionary procedures. Some of the doctors in the hospital have been awarded the prestigious ‘Padma Bhushan’, Padma Shri’, Dr B. C. Roy National Award’ and ‘Marquis Who’s Who in the World’ awards. The dedicated team of doctors is never away from the patients and is available for assistance around the clock. The Medanta Hospital Doctors aim to provide the best medical treatment to the patients.

Ensuring the comfort of patients’ families

The hospital has been so designed that there is ample space for the patient’s family and dear one to relax. The hospital rooms have a separate sofa alongside the bed of the patient, to make sure that even the family members are able to rest. Also, there are night lounges for the family members to relax when they cannot stay along with the patients. The hospital has easy access to food and other basic amenities that would be needed by the people who are with the patients.

Compassionate Staff

The staff at the hospital right from the janitors to the persons who serve food is compassionate and enthusiastic about providing the best services to the patients. They ensure that the patients feel at ease and there is nothing that would hamper their course of treatment. The staff is available around the clock for any sort of assistance that a patient would require.

Inculcation of alternate therapies

The hospital doesn’t only run on allopathic medicine or surgical procedures. Ayurvedic medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy and unani procedures are also taken into account to ensure that patients get relief. Sometimes patients are given a concoction of ayurvedic medicines prior to undergoing treatment to reduce the discomfort that may occur as a side effect of the treatment.

Specialized Treatment

The hospital is divided into floors and each floor can be considered as another hospital. Patients do not have to rush to different counters to understand the process; rather the staff helps them at every step. The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and thereby, provides the best diagnosis and treatment options to the patients. Even the most complex cases are treated carefully at Medanta hospital with the help of the excellence of the doctors, staff and modern technology.

The idea of Medanta hospital was conceived in the year 2003 to deliver high quality and affordable health care services in India. Medanta hospital has been specifically made to ensure that the patients receive the most efficient and personalized treatment. Apart from providing the best medical care, the hospital sets an example for other medical institutes. If you are looking for a world class health care facility in India, then Medanta-The medicity can be the right option for you.

MARINA Celebrates Day of the Seafarer; Launches SID

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To recognize the immense contributions of seafarers, not only in the Philippine economy, but also in the international seaborne trade, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has celebrated the "Day of the Seafarer" at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on 25 June 2019.

The annual global event, which was coordinated with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was organized around the theme of gender equality and also linked with the slogan of the upcoming World Maritime Day on 26 September 2019, "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community."

Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, through Undersecretary for Maritime Fernando Juan Perez, extended his greetings to all the seafarers and the MARINA for continuous effort and hardwork in developing the maritime industry.

"My heartfelt congratulations, as well as to the hardworking men and women of the MARINA. We have achieved leaps and bounds in the development of the Philippine seafaring industry. Mabuhay ang mga manlalayag na Pilipino," Secretary Tugade stated.

For his part, MARINA Officer-In-Charge Vice Admiral Narciso A Vingson Jr commended Filipino Seafarers for their huge contributions and emphasized that the agency is one with the world in celebrating the Day of the Seafarer.

"Today, we especially recognize the gallantry and service of our Filipino seafarers who are conquering high seas to provide for their families and keep the economy humming through shipping. Our snappiest salute fittingly goes to the industry’s unsung heroes," Vice Admiral Vingson said.

The MARINA's celebration of the Day of the Seafarer also included the mass oathtaking of new Merchant Marine officers who successfully passed the MARINA examination, a talk about mental wellness, a battle of the bands, and a concert, as well as the processing of Certificate of Proficiency (COP), Certificate of Competence (COC), and Seafarer's Identification and Record Book (SIRB).

Meanwhile, in a video message, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim also recognized the important role of women in the international maritime industry.

"To everyone in shipping – you are missing out on a huge talent pool if you do not recognize and empower women in the workplace. Join our Day of the Seafarer campaign and get on board with gender equality at sea," IMO Secretary-General Lim said.


Launching of SID

During the event, the MARINA also formally launched the Seafarer's Identity Document (SID).

The SID is developed in compliance with the standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 185 or the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention 2003, as amended.

Generally, the SID will facilitate Filipino seafarers’ shore leave, cross border, transfer, and repatriation even without a visa.