5 days ago
Solons seek probe into high NAIA fees a year after privatization
Opposition lawmakers on Monday called for an investigation into the privatization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), pointing out that the increased rates in airport services have become exorbitant in the aftermath of the takeover by the San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-led New NAIA Infra Corp.
Party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers and Renee Co of Kabataan made the call under their House Resolution 29, saying public services should not be made into a cash cow by private businesses.
'We are here to raise the alarm on privatization in what is supposed to be the gateway to our country. NAIA is the fifth busiest airport in Southeast Asia, and our intensified labor export policy has resulted in 7,000 Filipinos a day leaving to work abroad. Pero ang estado ng NAIA ngayon? Napakamahal ng operation nito. At sa mamamayang Pilipino ang pagpasan ng pagbabayad nito,' Co, a lawyer, told reporters after filing the resolution.
(How much would you spend to use NAIA now? It is very expensive, and the burden is on the Filipino people.)
Co cited that terminal fees will increase from P550 to P950, and even concessionaires or businesses that operate in NAIA now have to spend P3,200 per square meter for rental fees from P700 pesos per square meter.
The parking fee, meanwhile, increased from P300 to P1,200 for 24 hours.
'Ganito na kamahal ang NAIA. Pero kung titignan natin, ang airports, bilang daluyan sila ng mga tao, ng mga kagamitan, vital for defense, for security, for economic development. Dapat, ang may hawak niyan, gobyerno. Hindi ito dapat ginagamit para patuloy na magkaltas ng kita sa mga mamamayang dumaraan dito,' Co said.
(This is how expensive NAIA is. Come to think of it, airports provide access to people, equipment, all vital for defense, security, economic development. It should be the government who is in control of that. The airport should not be used as a way to reduce the income of people who use the airport.)
'Ang right to travel, hindi dapat 'yan mahal,' Co added.
(The right to travel should not be expensive.)
Tinio, for his part, said that the country has a long history of privatizing government services such as electricity and water, which did not necessarily result in high quality amenities.
'Just look at PrimeWater. Instead of water being more affordable, the rates even increased. This is what is happening to NAIA now. These increases in concessionaires, terminal will be charged to the airfare in the long run. As it is, we are already the third most expensive airport in Southeast Asia, and we don't see a corresponding quality of service with these increases,' Tinio said.
'That is why we really need an investigation here,' he added.
GMA News Online has reached out to SMC for comment and will publish it as soon as it is made available.
The New NAIA Infra Corp. took over NAIA operations in September 2024.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
