By increasing overnight parking rates from P300 to P1,200 or by about four times, the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), a corporation of San Miguel Corp. that was awarded the contract to rehabilitate, operate and manage the country's main gateway, is practically shooing away overnight parkers.
The overnight rates for other vehicle types are: P480 for motorcycles and P2,400 for buses.
Rates for the first two hours are: P50 for cars and P25 per hour for succeeding hours; P20 per hour for motorcycles and P10 per hour for succeeding hours and P100 for buses for the first two hours and P50 per hour for succeeding hours.
Netizens quickly deplored and criticized the NNIC for being “greedy” and “garapal.”
But motoring blogger, Vernon Sarne who writes the column"Spoiler” in Visor Ph, said his first reaction at the news was this is what putting a ‘business-minded organization of NAIA’ to a public utility like airport will do,’ for the sake of making NAIA at par with other modern airports in the world.
“One could argue that the bar is so low that whatever NNIC decides to put on the drawing board should be a home run. Well, it seems to be a homer out of the field all right. From a P300 overnight parking fee for cars, the shocking rate is now P1,200. Or what you usually spend on a romantic date—with four-hour parking to boot,” he commented.
Reducing parking misuse
In a press statement, NNIC explained the purpose of the new parking rates.
“Previous parking rates unintentionally encouraged misuse of the airport’s limited parking spaces. Many individuals, including those from nearby establishments and with no airport-related business, were taking advantage of the low rates for overnight or long-term parking. This created parking shortage for actual passengers, adding to congestion and frustration,” NNIC’s statement said.
The release added that the new rates were to “prioritize passengers…reduce congestion…and improve efficiency.”
Indeed, when the clock struck 12 on October 1, the overnight parkers at Terminal 3 were like a crowd at a trapo rally. No more cars brought by casino players or nearby office workers.
“I travel regularly, both domestically and internationally. I can’t tell you the many times I feared being late for my flight just because it took me forever to enter the airport premises and find a safe parking slot. I hear that airport parking was being used by casino players and office workers from nearby establishments. With the astronomical rise in parking fees, I expect the facilities to really serve travelers,” Sarne said.
He said he was informed by an insider that they hope to free up at least 500 parking slots at Terminal 3 (and 1,500 slots for all terminals) for long-term parkers. That’s for scaring away non-travelers and discouraging them from stealing precious spaces.
“My informant also shares that fixed-rate parking is being made available for P700 a month. Sounds too good to be true, but this comes straight from a trustworthy source,” he added.
“To top it all, my source says that “85 percent of revenues will go to the government.”
Maybe there lies the problem: The money will be sent to unscrupulous coffers,” he lamented.
An Alin Hayudini said: “is that their solution to the congestion of parking spaces at NAIA Terminal 3 by discouraging the so-called unscrupulous people, not travelers parking there: If they want to avoid these people, the reasonable solution is to require plane tickets from drivers intending to park and no fraudulently charge astronomical fees.”
Another, a Renato Cunanan said: “Weeh. Tell it to the marines. Walang pang ginagawang pagbabago agad na nagpatupad ng hike mga AirlineCo. Lipat na lang sa Clark Airport, hindi pa congested, wala masyado trapik, kaya mong i manage ang time mo.”
And, Robert Sontousidad said: And this is a reason from RSA increasing the parking fee and the money must put back in constructing a world-class comfort room, waiting area and other facilities while as OFW, for more than 25 years the waiting area is like “palengke” and hoping the deteriorated condition of our airport while RSA has a better turnaround as a world-class airport.”
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #NAIA #NNIC #Aviation