‘NAIA rationalization may not solve congestion woes’

SEN. Grace Poe said rationalizing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport ciation (IATA) had said that the reassignment in airport terminals requires years of planning. It added that Clark is too far from Manila for it to serve as the alternative airport.

“Even the most experienced airport operators such as Changi Airport Singapore require at least three years of planning before relocating airline operations under favorable conditions like an empty terminal building. Moreover, the actual execution of the transfer takes around seven months to complete as airlines would need to secure appropriate facilities like would also require renovations Poe said.

The senator acknowledged the P350-billion proposal of the Super Consortium composed of seven Philippine conglomerates to transform NAIA into a regional aviation hub.

“This expansion of NAIA may more likely resolve existing constraints similar to the upgrading of terminals in Cebu. Contrasting these ventures with the intended terminal rationalization reveals that the planned redistribution of may only be a band-aid solution to the continuing problems in NAIA,” Poe said.

The GMR- Megawide consortium also submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Department of Transportation (DoTR) to rehabilitate, expand, operate and maintain NAIA, which, after the 18-year development, will handle 72 million passengers annually. NAIA currently has a 30 million annual capacity.

“For the long- term, the government should study whether expanding NAIA or transferring Manila’s airport away from the city center is more viable. If, after the conduct of the necessary studies and assessments, the MIAA has independently determined, based terminals is still the most optimal solution, notwithstanding the capacity constraints, a blueprint or roadmap of the process should be provided to all stakeholders so that they may also be engaged in effective consultation,” Poe said.