The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is set for a major upgrade as New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) and Manila Electric Company (Meralco) team up to modernize its power infrastructure.

The partnership, sealed during a signing ceremony in Pasig City, focuses on providing sustainable and reliable energy solutions to support the airport’s growing needs.

Under the partnership, Meralco will build a new substation to provide reliable electricity to all four terminals, complementing the existing substation at Terminal 3.

Construction is set to begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed by December 2026. Meralco will also implement an underground power distribution system designed to improve reliability and reduce risks of power interruptions.

Surveys and planning for this system will begin later this month.

MSERV activating UPS

Additionally, Meralco subsidiary MSERV will install a new Uninterrupted Power Supply system in critical areas like Terminal 3 and the airfield to ensure continuous power for essential airport operations.

“By enhancing power reliability for the new NAIA, we are going to help empower the tourism and travel industry, support economic growth, and enrich the travel experience for countless travelers,” Meralco chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

For years, NAIA has struggled with aging infrastructure and insufficient power capacity, leading to frequent disruptions and inefficiencies.

Under NAIA’s privatization, NNIC is prioritizing these foundational problems, with power reliability at the center of its efforts to modernize and transform the airport into a world-class facility.