Groups urge Ang to pursue no-cost NAIA rehab

Following the recent pledge of San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon Ang to address the City of Manila’s flooding problem at no cost to the government, several groups urged him to take on the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport under the same arrangement.

Coalition group Socialista argued that Ang should do the same for NAIA to prevent disruption, dislocation, and cost escalation resulting from airport fee increases.

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

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

“Please do not forget that your constituents are more than just political figures,” NCL Chairman Emeritus Atty. Ernesto Arellano said.

Earlier this week, Socialista, along with other groups including PUSO ng NAIA and Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Paliparan ng Pilipinas, sought a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction against NAIA’s fee hikes set for implementation this September.

The groups argued that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Revised Order No. 1, Series of 2024, was issued without public consultation.

The order includes non-regulated fees and charges — or fees that are not mandatory and can be determined by the airport operator — on top of regulated ones.

Under the order, terminal fees for passengers will significantly increase.

Domestic terminal fees will rise to P390 from P200, while international terminal fees will increase to P950 from P550. Other hikes will also apply to landing and take-off charges, aircraft parking, cargo handling, and more.

Overseas Filipino workers remain exempt from terminal fees.