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DOTr's Bautista: NAIA privatization plan covers operations and maintenance, not assets
By TED CORDERO,GMA Integrated NewsThe Marcos administration intends to privatize the operations and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with assets remaining under government control, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday.
Bautista issued the clarification after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the NAIA—the country's main gateway—would not be privatized.
Marcos said that "a private firm cannot own the airport."
"Ang ibig sabihin ng Presidente, hindi naman natin ibibigay sa private sector ‘yung assets ng NAIA. Ang ibig niyang sabihin, it’s the private sector who will manage the operations through a concession agreement, which is what we have been doing in two airports now —sa Cebu at saka sa Clark," Bautista said at a Palace briefing.
(What the President meant was that the assets of NAIA would not be sold to the private sector. What he meant was that it’s the private sector that will manage the operations through a concession agreement, which is what we have been doing at two airports now—Cebu and Clark.)
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The Transportation chief was referring to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport which are operated by private firms GMR-Megawide and Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., respectively.
Bautista has said that the DOTr is working with the Asian Development Bank on the preparation of the terms of reference for NAIA's privatization.
The DOTr chief also allayed fears of higher airfares and airport terminal fees, as the regulatory function will remain with the government.
"The government will have a say in the rates that the operators will impose," Bautista, a former president of Philippine Airlines, said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News