The bedbugs keep biting at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), after the insects—“surot” in Filipin—were spotted on steel chairs at the departure area of its terminals in the latest video going viral on social media on Thursday.
But if it’s any consolation, the Tourism Congress of the Philippinessaid that while the incident was “embarrassing,” it was an “isolatedcase.”
It’s also an issue plaguing other countries too, said Senator GracePoe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services.
“In France, train stations and some hotel rooms are affected. There is an increasing infestation problem,” said Poe in a text message to reporters.
“I saw they removed the chair already. I hope they fumigate theairport so that they can stop the spread of these bed bugs,” added James Montenegro, president of the Tourism Congress.
“This is an isolated incident; it shouldn’t have a major impact on our industry. It’s not the first time that an establishment [had] bed bugs in our country,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
The Manila International Airport Authority has already apologized to the affected passengers and said a speedy resolution to the infestation should be expected.
Poe urged the management of NAIA “to make it a practice to regularly check disinfect and thoroughly clean facilities,” making the same call to all maintenance units of private and public offices.