OPINION: My pre-pandemic China phone sounds clearer and louder than NAIA’s PA system

The PA system is basic airport infrastructure and it needs to be clear, not impressive.

I am not a frequent flyer, so whenever I am at an airport, I actually listen to the announcements.

That is why I have started noticing how difficult some airport public announcement systems are to understand, particularly at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The speakers, particularly at Terminal 2, can sound muffled, distorted, or so garbled that I sometimes have to listen several times to make out what is being said.

That is not ideal when the announcement could be about a boarding gate, a schedule change, baggage check-in, or a final call.

People who fly more frequently have told me they have experienced the same thing at other Philippine airports. None could immediately point to an airport where the PA system consistently sounds clear.

Maybe frequent flyers learn to tune it out because they already know what to expect. For someone who does not fly often, though, the announcements are supposed to be one of the things that helps you navigate the airport.

NAIA handled a record 52.02 million passengers in 2025, while New NAIA Infra Corp. says it has spent ₱6.8 billion on rehabilitation and modernization since taking over the airport in September 2024.

The airport has already introduced hundreds of new flight information display systems and other technology upgrades.

But screens do not replace announcements. A passenger might be looking away when a gate changes or a final boarding call is made.

The PA system is basic airport infrastructure and does not need to be impressive. It just needs to be clear.

It is already 2026. If an airport can spend billions on modernization, its speakers should at least sound better than my old phone.

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