Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon once again stood firm on the government’s decision to privatize the operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under a public-private partnership (PPP) with San Miguel Corporation.
In an ABS-CBN News report, Dizon stressed that transparency has guided the entire process since the beginning, noting that the agreement was carried out with the oversight of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“Transparent ang pagka-PPP ng NAIA. Ito’y [guided] ng Asian Development Bank mismo at nagtitiwala tayo sa guidance ng ADB at nakita naman natin ang benepisyo ng pag-PPP ng NAIA — gumanda ang serbisyo, umigsi ang mga pila at gumanda ang experience ng mga kababayan natin at ng mga turista natin,” he told reporters.
Dizon acknowledged that improvements are still ongoing but credited San Miguel’s takeover with noticeable changes in airport operations. “Hindi pa siya perfect since nag-takeover ang San Miguel pero napakaganda na ng naging palakad sa airport at sa tingin ko sa mga susunod na buwan eh gaganda pang lalo,” he added.
The transport chief underscored that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the government remain committed to the deal. “So pinaninindigan ng gobyerno ang PPP with San Miguel Corporation — ito’y transparent, ito ay dumaan sa masusi na proseso na inadvised ng Asian Development Bank at nasa korte na ang mga reklamo…pabayaan na lang nating dumaan ang proseso pero paninindigan ng DOTr at ng gobyerno ang PPP ng NAIA,” he explained.
Despite these assurances, petitions filed by groups such as PUSO ng NAIA, Socialista, and the Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Paliparan ng Pilipinas, along with labor leader Leody de Guzman, are asking the Supreme Court to declare the deal unconstitutional. The petitioners raised concerns over the impending “mega-hike” in airport-related fees that is set to take effect in September.
