MANILA – Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista highlighted the improved services at the Manila International Airport (MIA) since the takeover of its private concessionaire in March last year.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV on Thursday, Bautista said there have been “major improvements” at MIA.
“Kaya kami ay natutuwa na ang private sector ay talaga namang ginagawa iyong pangako nila sa amin under the concession agreement (We are happy that the private sector fulfilled its promise under the concession agreement),” he said.
Improvements include easing vehicular traffic on roads near MIA terminals, adjusting airport and parking fees, installing air conditioners at MIA Terminal 3, rehabilitating the baggage system, and a systematic overhaul that led to less passenger congestion at terminals.
“Ito pong MIA ay mayroong capacity to handle only 35 million passengers. In fact, iyong report ng MIA noong January 1, ito po iyong pinakamataas na na-handle – 50 million, 100 thousand passengers in 2024 (MIA can only handle 35 million passengers. But MIA reported on January 1 the highest number of passengers they handled – 50.1 million passengers in 2024),” he said.
The partnership, considered the largest government privatization project, will entail a PHP3 billion investment from the private sector and increase the MIA’s capacity to 72 million passengers per year.
“Itong privatization, hindi lang mag-i-improve iyong experience ng ating mga pasahero dahil magkakaroon ng mas comfortable, convenient but at the same time po ay malaki iyong kikitain ng gobyerno natin dito (This privatization will not only improve passenger experience but also raise government revenues),” he said.
He said the government is poised to earn PHP900 billion in the next 25 years under the agreement, compared to the MIA Authority’s (MIAA) revenue of PHP3 billion per year in the past.
“Ang laki po ng iko-contribute nito sa ating budget po, kasi kailangan din natin ng pondo (This will have a huge contribution to our budget because we need the funds),” he said.
The concession agreement was signed by the San Miguel Corp. or SMC-led New NAIA Infra Corp. in March last year after being awarded the PHP170.6 billion public-private partnership modernization project for the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. (PNA)