Cebu stakeholders back Naia rehabilitation

This combination photo shows a file photo of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (left) and render of Megawide-GMR’s planned improvement of the country’s primary airport. Megawide seeks “to transform NAIA from one of the world’s worst-rated to among the world’s best airports.” FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines – Organizations from various sectors in Cebu have expressed support for the partnership of Megawide and GMR Infrastructure’s proposal to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

In separate letters to President Rodrigo Duterte, stakeholders from the tourism and health sector urged him to give the proposal a go as this will help revive tourism and the economy.

Cebu Association of Tour Guides President Mary Grace Melendres noted Megawide and GMR had proven their track record and expertise in projects like the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and the New Clark International Airport.

“We strongly believe Cebu’s experience with MCIA can and should be replicated at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or Naia,” Melendres said in her letter to the President.

“Mr. President, we are asking for your support to restore Megawide’s Original Proponent Status so we can finally have a world-class Naia that we all deserve,” she added.

Melendres also lamented the anti-dummy case filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against the private consortiums.

“We believe the sole purpose of this issue is to tarnish their reputation given the Naia project and has nothing to do with the airport’s management,” she said.

Prime Care Alpha COVID-19 Testing Laboratory Head Dr. James Peter Aznar also backed Naia’s rehabilitation to “revive the glory of the country’s primary gateway.”

“Naia has definitely seen better days. It even sunk so low as being the worst airport in the world from 2011 to 2013. Yet for one reason or another, it never got the care it so richly deserved as the initial touchpoint to most visitors of our beautiful country,” Aznar added.

Vertical Difficult Access Solutions Inc.’s president Eduardo Solana Jr. also vouched for Megawide and GMR, saying its third-party partners are satisfied with their service.

According to Solana’s letter to the President, “Megawide and GMR’s solid track record of designing, constructing and delivering topnotch airports would definitely deliver a world-class Naia and would put the country back on the map of international tourists.”