There is no need to privatize the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) because the airport itself can get their funding through revenue collection to provide funds for rehabilitation.
According to three prominent airport stakeholders, the NAIA earns a lot because it has many sources of funds to support the improvement of the facility.
The group who have united to submit a unique offer to the government to fast-track the improvement of NAIA without any exorbitant cost or revenue loss to government, or increased terminal fees for travelers.
Veteran Ground Handlers Data, Inc. (Philippine subsidiary of the United Arab Emirates' data) and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc, (PAGSS), as well as the Bureau of Immigration's eGate provider Ascent Solutions Philippines, Inc., have banded together and volunteered to equip the country's main gateway with automated biometrics and Common Use Self Service (CUSS) systems and equipment, including self-service check-in and bag drop, additional e-Gates and automated flight boarding.
These systems, according to the stakeholders, can substantially reduce passenger processing times and, following their proposed implementation schedule, should augment the capacity of Terminal 1 by some two million passengers per year within just three months.
They added that after further rollout within six months, the departure capacity of Terminal 1 should increase by four million more passengers per year, and Terminal 3 by eight million.
The stakeholders reacted that some of the country's conglomerates have submitted unsolicited proposals to the government to rehabilitate NAIA including the upgrade of airport's equipment and facilities. They said that inflated rehabilitation figures and the proposed upgrade whose cost will inevitably and needlessly be passed on to passengers.
The group had set out to demonstrate NAIA's functionality up until the flagship New Manila International Airport opens in less than five years.
"Having gained invaluable insight into NAIA from years of experience, we know with certainty that the main pain point of passengers, airlines, and airport users is congestion, long queues resulting to convenience. This issue can be satisfactorily addressed through automation," said PAGSS President Janette Cordero.
"With the right guidance and the support of airport stakeholders, NAIA can be operated more efficiently, without overspending or overcharging," Cordero added.
She said that the group offered to provide the services of aviation experts in airport operations and optimization of runway capacity to support the government's efforts in developing ways and means to decongest NAIA.
Cordero emphazised that said services are at no cost or charge to the government, or does not intend to charge the riding public any fee for the use of its equipment.
"It remains to be seen if the government will act favorably on this complimentary offer, or if the Department of Transportation will still insist on surrendering control over its prime airport real estate to private entities, despite numerous criticisms arising from the significant foregone government revenues, the proposed substantial increases in airport charges, and the futility of spending to expand an already congested single-runway airport," the group said.
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