Amid the recent announcements of a upcoming surge in passenger fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas has called for a thorough investigation into its privatization and the contract handed to the San Miguel Corporation-led consortium for the airport’s operation and rehabilitation.
“Wala pang pagbabago na nagaganap sa NAIA, nauna nang lumipad ang singil sa mga pasahero,” Rep. Brosas said. “This relentless quest for return on investment by such corporations is a disservice to public interest, making air travel more inaccessible, especially to the 2 million overseas Filipino workers who are hoping for quality and affordable air transport.”
Under this new private-public partnership, SMC has committed to a substantial revenue share with the government over 15 years. Yet, alarmingly, the steep hike in passenger service charges and landing and takeoff fees has been announced prior to any visible improvements in airport facilities. Domestic travelers will see fees jump from P200 to P390, while international travelers face an increase from P550 to P950.
“The government’s outsourcing of NAIA operations is nothing but a scapegoat for passing the buck to private entities. Even before a single terminal gets a facelift, these big businesses are already cashing in. It’s a high-flying budol!” Rep. Brosas said. “This is the consequence of a system that prioritizes privatization, turning what should be a public service into a private profit machine.”
Gabriela Women’s Party has consistently opposed the privatization of essential public services, drawing parallels to the issues faced by the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the potential privatization of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 and LRT-2.
“We will file a resolution to scrutinize the NAIA privatization’s impact on passengers and the broader public. This matter will also be a focal point during the upcoming budget deliberations,” Rep. Brosas concluded.
