As the country’s premier gateway faces unending issues on inefficiencies, the Management Association of the Philippines joins the public clamor for the expeditious privatization, whether by a solicited or unsolicited bidding process, of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and its upgrading to global standards.
In a statement, MAP president Benedicta Du-Baladad said the group underscores the need to place the rehabilitation and operations of NAIA under private sector management, “given its demonstrated capability and extensive resources in undertaking big-ticket complex public infrastructure projects.”
Further, she said MAP believes in the competitive advantage of the National Capital Region and its central business districts having access to a nearby city airport, believing further that a robust economy with burgeoning air travel supports a multi-airport system for a large catchment, such as NCR and its environs.
Privatization, transparency
“Privatization should be undertaken in an unassailable manner with full transparency, in accordance with best practices, existing laws and regulations which provide for both solicited and unsolicited competitive bidding processes, with the objective of yielding an expeditious process, time being of the essence, and contract terms and conditions in the best public interest,” she said.
Also, Baladad said the case for privatization is bolstered by the many constraints that have weighed down on our country’s main air gateway, hampered in particular by tedious, inefficient and ineffective government bureaucratic processes, fiscal constraints, and compounded by lack of management autonomy.
“All of these administrative and operational constraints have detrimental effects, manifested in the perennial cellar rating of NAIA among airports and the recent power outages that effectively paralyzed airport operations to the great detriment of air travelers, tourism as well as trade and commerce,” she said.
“The MAP believes that the NAIA privatization should include major upgrading of airport infrastructure, facilities and processes — notably at the airside and landside to include its runway, expanding aircraft movements, passenger throughput capacity, enhancing operating and maintenance processes, particularly through the introduction of modern technology, that will have a favorable impact on passenger comfort and airport security,” Baladad highlighted.
Airport revamb
She said the overhauling needed at NAIA includes technology-aided processes for airline self-check-in; boarding pass issuance; bag drop facility; passport control; next-generation security check; automated boarding gates; improved air and runway traffic control technology; dynamic way-finding and flight information displays; inter-terminal transfer mobility; adequate areas for check-in, boarding, baggage claim and parking; efficient internet service, NAIA app/website; among others, in order to enhance passenger experience at the airport.
Earlier, Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim said concessionaires would have to commit to investing P141 billion in NAIA facilities, among other upfront payments that would cost more than P30 billion.
He said the gateway may be privatized as early as the first quarter of 2024 if the process of awarding the contract to the government’s chosen concessionaire will be fast.