Romualdez hails Naia rehab project, sees ‘new era of progress’

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (Image from miaa.gov.ph)

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez believes the signing of the public-private partnership (PPP) contract for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) signals the start of a new era for the often-criticized airport.

 In a statement on Monday, Romualdez said the P170.6 billion concession agreement between the government and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) show the administration’s commitment to usher in economic growth.

Romualdez was with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin when SMC President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eric Jose Ines signed the contract in Malacañang.

 “The rehabilitation and operation of NAIA under this PPP framework demonstrate the unwavering commitment of the administration of President Marcos, Jr. to fostering sustainable growth and innovation in our transportation infrastructure,” Romualdez said.

“This momentous occasion signals a new era of progress and efficiency for NAIA,” he added.

According to Romualdez, the project has the potential to “elevate Naia to world-class standards” and position it as “a premier gateway to the Philippines”, all while the government saving costs.

“The revitalization of Naia also promises broader economic benefits for our country and our people, including job creation, increased tourism, and greater connectivity with global markets,” Romualdez said.

“We remain committed to working closely with all stakeholders to overcome challenges, uphold transparency, and deliver tangible benefits to the Filipino people,” he added.

The SMC-SAP & Co. Consortium, composed of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp, bagged contract by offering the biggest revenue share of the government — at 82.16 percent.

Naia, which has been ranked as one of the world’s worst airports for several years, faced another set of issues as travelers complained about bed bugs on chairs, and rats roaming around the different terminals.

Recently, there were concerns that the so-called “tanim-bala” scheme — where live bullets are placed inside passengers’ baggage so that airport authorities can apprehend them — is returning.