Paolo Duterte, 2 other solons want NAIA renamed to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas

Presidential son Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte and two other lawmakers have filed a bill seeking to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas.

In filing House Bill 7031 with ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Yap and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, Duterte stressed the need for a more representative branding for the country's international gateway.

READ: Presidential son Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte and two other House leaders have filed a bill seeking to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport into Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas @gmanews pic.twitter.com/oYdzVtBXws

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He said that aside from bearing the country's name, their proposed name of Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas is also in the Philippines' national language.

"We want it to reflect the legacy of the Filipino people, our everyday heroes. The name bears no color, no political agenda. It only signifies our warmth as Filipinos in welcoming our own kababayans and foreign visitors," Duterte said.

For his part, Velasco said that their proposal seeks to reposition the Philippines as a choice destination for tourists, especially when the country reopens its borders for travelers once the COVID-19 crisis is over.

"Renaming it to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas will not only benefit and bolster our brand as a destination hub, but will also strengthen the country’s identity,” he said.

“I am confident that by doing so, it will provide us a competitive edge as our neighbors open their doors, too, to visitors. Changing the name of NAIA to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas  gives every Filipino a great sense of pride and ownership of the country’s biggest and largest international airport,” he added.

Yap, meanwhile, said that they want returning Filipinos or balikbayans and foreign tourists alike to see the name of the country right away once their flights land at the airport, making them feel at home.

"Marami naman na personalidad na karapat-dapat rin na sa kanila ipangalan ang institusyon, daan, at iba pa. Pero pagdating sa ating paliparan, dapat ay sumalamin ito sa bansa at sa sambayanang Pilipino," he said.

The original name of the airport was Manila International Airport, but in 1987, during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino, it was renamed NAIA through Republic Act 6639, in honor of her husband and former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Ninoy was assassinated at this airport on August 21, 1983 after a three-year exile in the United States.

His death sparked various protests leading up to the first EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, during which the Marcos family fled the Philippines to Hawaii and Corazon was catapulted to the presidency. -MDM, GMA News