DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon defended anew the public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with San Miguel Corporation to privatize the operation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In an ambush interview on Tuesday, August 26, at its head office in Mandaluyong City, Dizon said from the very start, the NAIA PPP has been transparent. Dizon believes that, though it’s not yet perfect, the private concessionaire has already improved the services at the airport.
“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 said.
“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,” Dizon told reporters.
According to Dizon, the government will stand by its decision to place NAIA under PPP.
“So pinaninindigan ng gobyerno ang PPP with San Miguel Corporation – ito’y transparent. Ito ay dumaan sa masusi na proseso na in-advised 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,” Dizon explained.
Several groups have been urging the Supreme Court to declare the concession contract for NAIA between the government and the New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC) unconstitutional.
Petitioners PUSO ng NAIA, Socialista, and Samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa Paliparan ng Pilipinas, and labor leader Leody de Guzman sought for a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction, noting that the “mega-hike” in airport-related fees would be implemented in September. (ABS-CBN News)
