Senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman criticized the private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for raising fees without making any improvements at the airport.
“On October 1, the airport’s overnight or 24-hour car parking rates increased to P1,200 from the previous P300. The short-term parking, which used to be P40 for the first three hours and P15 for each hour thereafter, has become P50 and P25,” said De Guzman.
“I also discovered that the rent for other concessionaires and service providers leasing land at NAIA will also be increased. This includes companies in food handling, ground mechanics and maintenance, cargo, and more,” he added.
De Guzman stated that these fee hikes will not only affect overseas Filipino workers and their families but will also impact local tourism, importers, and exporters, as various airport-related services will become more expensive.
He criticized New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) chairman Ramon Ang, alleging that Ang benefited from the privatization of NAIA.
“He (Ang) boasts that he will make the airport world-class, but the funding for it will come from the public consumers instead of his own pocket. The problem with raising the fees is that it is a ‘pass-on’ that will ultimately be shouldered by ordinary citizens using the airport,” he said.
“Similar to our experience with oil, water, and electricity, the privatization and deregulation of basic services do not lead to a decrease in costs or an improvement in efficiency. The primary motive behind privatization and deregulation is private profit, not the welfare and well-being of the public,” he added.
De Guzman mentioned that their legal team is currently studying steps to reverse the concession agreement and to immediately prevent the fee increase for using facilities at NAIA.
The NNIC took over the management and operation of NAIA and is committed to spending at least P170 billion to modernize the 76-year-old gateway.
The latest development at the airport includes a new “meet and assist service” fee of P8,000 charged per passenger.
The NNIC offers three service options for passengers:
- Service Option 1: accommodates up to nine passengers, includes access passes for coordinators and a vehicle pass for P50,000.
- Service Option 2: accommodates 10 to 20 passengers, includes four access passes for coordinators and a vehicle pass for P100,000.
- Service Option 3: accommodates 21 to 30 passengers, includes four access passes for coordinators and a vehicle pass for P140,000.
Lounge use is not included in these options.
