San Miguel Corporation said it plans to build a new passenger terminal building as part of its commitment to increase the capacity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s main international gateway.
The rehabilitation agreement, which was signed at the Palace on Monday, was described by President Marcos as bady needed given the “poor state” of the country’s main international airport.
“The reputation of this airport has been shredded, and let us be frank about it, not by bad press, but by its actual poor state,” the President said.
“So, it’s really important that we fix this now,” he added.
SMC president Ramon Ang said the new passenger terminal building can handle 35 million passengers annually with 50 concourse boarding bridges.
“It will add 30 percent more space in our existing terminals 1, 2 and 3,” he said in a press conference in Manila after the signing of the concession agreement for the rehabilitation project which has an estimated cost of around P170.6 billion.
At present, NAIA is operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers, clogging air traffic and causing frequent flight delays.
“My promise to you is that it [new passenger terminal building] willall be completed within three years. It’s going to be quick,” Ang said.
The abandoned Philippine Village Hotel could be a potential site for the proposed terminal, Ang added.
The President said political turbulence and inaction, among others, delayed NAIA’s rehabilitation.
“The postponed improvement of the airport has resulted in delayed and reduced number of flights. So, due to insufficient flights, visitor arrivals have suffered, denying our economy billions in tourism receipts,” he said.
He said the project would mobilize approximately P88 billion in capital investments in its first six years of operation.
“This is more than eight times the disbursed capital investments for the Manila International Airport since 2010,” Mr. Marcos said.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista expressed confidence the project will open the floodgates of opportunities for the country—from investments, business, tourism and employment.
“It will also create opportunities for Filipinos. With a modernized NAIA, we are elevating the airport’s facilities and services to international standards,” Bautista said.
For her part, Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said this was a step in the right direction.
“As our gateway to the rest of the world, nothing showcases the potential of our country better than a well maintained and operated international airport,” Poe said.
The proposed rehabilitation plan will cover the entirety of airport infrastructure, including runways, terminals, and ancillary facilities.
The Department of Transportation issued the Notice of Award to SMC-SAP & Co. Consortium on February 16, 2024. The consortium is made up of San Miguel Holdings Corp, RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp (IIAC).
