The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has joined the public clamor for the expeditious but “unassailable” privatization process of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and upgrading to global standards of the city airport. In a statement, MAP stressed that, whether by solicited or unsolicited bidding process, the NAIA  “privatization should be undertaken in an unassailable manner with full transparency, in accordance with best practices, existing laws and regulations which provide for both solicited and unsolicited competitive bidding processes,  with the objective of yielding an expeditious process, time being of the essence, and contract terms and conditions in the best public interest.” MAP underscored the need to place the rehabilitation and operations of NAIA under private sector management, given its demonstrated capability and extensive resources in undertaking big-ticket complex public infrastructure projects. MAP, which is composed of the country’s largest companies, further stressed the need to maintain the NAIA as a city airport. “MAP believes in the competitive advantage of the National Capital Region (NCR) and its central business districts (CBDs) having access to a nearby city airport, believing further that a robust economy with burgeoning air travel supports a multi-airport system for a large catchment, such as NCR and its environs,” the statement added. The case for privatization is bolstered by the many constraints that have weighed down on the  country's main air gateway, hampered in particular by tedious, inefficient and ineffective government bureaucratic processes, fiscal constraints, and compounded by lack of management autonomy. “All of these administrative and operational constraints have detrimental effects, manifested in the perennial cellar rating of NAIA among airports and the recent power outages that effectively paralyzed airport operations to the great detriment of air travelers, tourism as well as trade and commerce,” MAP said. The business group also emphasized that the NAIA privatization should include major upgrading of airport infrastructure, facilities and processes – notably at the airside and landside to include  its runway, expanding aircraft movements, passenger throughput capacity, enhancing operating and maintenance processes, particularly through the introduction of modern technology, that will have a favorable impact on passenger comfort and airport security. ”The MAP believes that a privatized NAIA can be free from bureaucratic red tape that slows down decision-making, and notes that clear-cut objectives encounter obstructive policies or practices that take years to change,” the statement said. The group envisions that a modernized NAIA features technology-aided processes for airline self-check-in; boarding pass issuance; bag drop facility; passport control; next-generation security check; automated boarding gates; improved air and runway traffic control technology; dynamic way-finding and flight information displays; inter-terminal transfer mobility; adequate areas for check-in, boarding, baggage claim and parking; efficient internet service, NAIA app/website; among others --- to enhance passenger experience at the airport. “The MAP shares the vision of a much-admired international airport and supports the voice of like-minded countrymen who desire and aspire for the best for our country and people,” the statement concluded.