Ang challenged: How about ‘no-cost’ NAIA fix?

With Ramon S. Ang, president and CEO of San Miguel Corp., pledging to address Metro Manila’s flooding problem “at no cost to the government,” several groups have urged him to take on the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under the same terms.

A civic group said that Ang should do the same at the NAIA to prevent the disruption, dislocation, and cost escalation that may result from the increase in airport fee.

The National Confederation of Labor (NCL) likewise called on Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to suspend any fee increases at the premier airport, similar to his blocking of Asian Terminals Inc.’s petition to increase terminal fees at the Batangas Port from P30 to P100.

The NCL said it may be time to heed the concerns of the workers and small entrepreneurs to be affected by the higher airport fees.

“Please do not forget that your constituents are more than just political figures,” NCL chairperson emeritus Ernesto Arellano reminded Dizon.

Earlier this week, different stakeholder associations sought from the Supreme Court (SC) a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction against fee increases at the NAIA set for implementation in September.

The groups argued that Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Revised Order 1, series of 2024, was issued without public consultation.

The directive included increases in non-regulated fees and charges, or fees that are not mandatory and may be determined by the airport operator on top of regulated ones.

Substantial hike in fees

Under the order, the terminal fees for passengers will be significantly increased.

Domestic terminal fees will rise from P200 to P390, while international terminal fees will increase from P550 to P950.

Other hikes will also be applied to landing and take-off charges, aircraft parking, and cargo handling, among others.

Overseas Filipino workers will remain exempt from terminal fees.

The same groups asked the Supreme Court to declare the concession contract with SMC’s New NAIA Infra Corp. unconstitutional.

The petition to the SC indicated that the public was not given reasonable notice or a fair opportunity to participate in the proceedings that led to the approval of the revised fees.

Valid rate-setting and publishing proposed rates, the petitioners argued, should have been undertaken at the Cabinet level and not at the MIAA.