MANILA, Philippines — Passengers arriving in Manila through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 3 who want to take “white” taxis home can breathe a little easier now.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) public affairs head Connie Bungag clarified that “white” taxis — regular metered taxis not accredited with the airport authority — are still allowed to enter the NAIA 3 departure area. They are, however, not allowed to make a queue. 

“If a taxi drop off a passenger [who’s departing], anyone can take it,” Bungag said in an interview with Rappler Wednesday, July 31.

Early this week, a video titled “Terminal 3 Scandal – Exit Closed” made the rounds online. It showed visibly irate passengers barred from exiting through the NAIA 3 departure area, where white taxis usually line up.

Bungag said there was miscommunication between the airport security guards and management. Passengers are not and will not barred from exiting through the departure area.

“[Perhaps] it was too early that we implemented it at hindi na-prepare ang public for it. We really meant well pero siguro pasensiya nalang that we weren’t able to communicate properly,” she said.

(Maybe we implemented it too early and the public wasn’t prepared. We really mean well but we apologize if it wasn’t communicated properly.)

Passenger safety

Bungag said the policy has always been not to allow white taxis to queue outside the airport for passenger pick-up because of safety concerns. The policy is in place in Terminal 1.

Public clamor to allow non-accredited taxis prompted airport authorities to let them in, because metered trips on “white” taxis are usually cheaper compared to the accredited ones.

Recent reports to the airport administration, however, called for a reassessment of the practice. “Complaints of overcharging, contracting, holdups were mounting… there were also reports that the taxis were becoming the source of corruption among guards,” she added.

The MIAA does not have hold over unaccredited taxis that pick passengers up from their airports. “Yellow” taxis, meanwhile, are accountable to MIAA.

Bungag declined to give a timeline for when airport management would wrap up its reassessment of its taxi policies.

Without the taxi bay, passengers who wish to take white taxis may have to wait a little longer to get a ride home. Bunag said arriving passengers can walk to the front of terminal 3 and take a cab from there. -Rappler.com