The government’s plan to privatize the country’s primary international gateway and aviation hub, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), received support from Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, who cited its potential to grow the Philippine travel economy.
In a statement, the economic adviser reiterated that privatizing the ownership of NAIA would grow the country’s tourism, which is a major driver of the economy.
“I am glad that Sec. Bautista supports the privatization of NAIA,” Concepcion said.
“Our airports create the first impression of our country, and since tourism has one of the biggest potential for growing our economy, any improvement made here will redound to so many benefits,” he added.
The Go Negosyo founder was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the lead of the jobs cluster of the Private Sector Advisory Council, which comprises leaders from the country’s business sector who provide guidance to the Chief Executive.
Bautista earlier confirmed that DOTr is fast-tracking the privatization of NAIA to help modernize and expand the country’s busiest gateway.
READ: Bautista confirms Marcos gov’t plans to privatize NAIA operations
He explained that NAIA has already exceeded its rated capacity and needs to be improved and modernized.
Once privatized, Metro Manila’s only airport can increase its aircraft movement capacity, which is currently limited to around 40 to 44 aircraft movements per hour.
The planned NAIA privatization would also help the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are the core of Go Negosyo’s advocacy.
“In my meeting with Sec. Frasco, we discussed how we can help our MSMEs prepare for the tourism boom. We still have, by far, the best beaches and one of the most welcoming people in the world,” Concepcion said.
The “biggest assist” for the tourism sector would be to make it easy for people who fly in and out of the NAIA.
“The airport experience must be improved, not just for the tourists but also for the OFWs who have only a few days to spend with their families here,” he said.
READ: DOTr fasttracks NAIA privatization
“An efficient airport will also ensure they will be able to make it back in time to their employers and keep their jobs,” the economic adviser added.
Earlier, Concepcion revived a 2018 proposal forming a consortium to modernize the NAIA following the New Year’s Day glitch that paralyzed operations over Philippine airspace.
The consortium proposed for the government to undertake various developments in three phases from 2021 to 2024, which are aimed at decongesting and increasing capacity for the airport.
It comprised some of the country’s biggest conglomerates, namely Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
Concepcion stressed that the private sector, even those not part of the consortium, are supportive of plans to make NAIA private.
“Having seen how badly key systems in our air transportation system need to be modernized, and how severely any glitch can affect the whole country, I hope that this time, we can revive this proposal and see it through,” he said.