BUSINESS leaders and a lawmaker are endorsing a proposal—refloated after the January 1 aviation fiasco that paralyzed the premier airport—to privatize operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport , but a large labor coalition warned it would throw out of jobs thousands of state workers, and hike costs of travelers.
The Go Negosyo founder underscored the airport’s crucial role in creating the first impression of the Philippines. Concepcion added that since tourism has “one of the biggest potentials” for growing the country’s economy, any improvement made on NAIA will “redound to so many benefits.” In the first week of 2023, following the glitch that halted all air travel within Philippine airspace, Concepcion suggested reviving a 2018 proposal forming a consortium to modernize NAIA.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told senators in an inquiry that the privatization of NAIA will be pursued this year as part of improving airport services. The government is open to a solicited or unsolicited proposal, he said, but given a choice, the DoTr wants a solicited proposal.The head of the Senate’s Public Services committee, Sen. Grace Poe, on Sunday affirmed support for the privatization, and vowed that lawmakers will thoroughly examine all proposals for such.
She said “a good example for me is the Mactan-Cebu airport. That is private, a Megawide-GMR partnership. If you see the design of the Mactan-Cebu airport, NAIA is an embarrassment compared to it.”It is important, she said, that solicited biddings or unsolicited proposals “are transparent and their provisions are in order.”However, a coalition of the country’s biggest labor groups on Sunday rejected the proposed privatization of NAIA.