Now that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be privately operated and maintained by the San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-SAP and Company Consortium, the divisive question of whether the airport will be renamed have once again resurfaced.
However, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista clarified that renaming the capital's airport was not part of the proposals made by the consortium bidders.
Bautista told reporters during the announcement of the NAIA bidding winner on Friday, Feb. 16 that there were no discussions on this issue with the bidding parties involved.
There were also no conditions or commitments indicated in their submitted proposals, nor was it a requirement asked of the agency to the groups.
However, Bautista said he will have to check with their legal team on whether the new NAIA operator is even allowed to change the airport's name.
"But I don't think naman they will change the name of the airport," he hastened to add.
Calls to rename
In 2022, fresh from the election of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as the country's chief executive, some officials have called on the national government to alter NAIA's identity, famously named after former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. who was shot at the airport upon his return to the country during Marcos Sr.'s administration.
The name NAIA was granted by virtue of Republic Act. No. 6639.
Officials who called for the change of the country's premier gateway include former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves, who proposed the renaming of NAIA to "Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport," through House Bill 610.
He stated that it is "more appropriate" to name the airport after Marcos Sr. as the former strongman was the "primary contributor and executor of the airport project."
Another proposal came from former Duterte Youth party-list Rep. Ducielle Cardema who filed House Bill 1252, seeking to revert NAIA to its original name "Manila International Airport (MIA)" in order to promote the nation's capital.
She cited "political reasons" for renaming the airport by former President Corazon Aquino, who was Ninoy's wife and widow.
In 2020, former lawmakers Reps. Paolo Duterte of the 1st District of Davao, Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque, Marinduque and Eric Yap of the ACT-CIS Party-list wanted to name NAIA as the "Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas," remarking the significance of using the Filipino language to identify the airport.
Meanwhile, further back in 2018, Atty. Larry Gadon also filed a petition to restore the MIA name.
Amid these, former Senator Franklin Drilon slammed the surfacing proposals in 2022, and urged his fellow lawmakers to focus on more pressing matters.
'Not a priority'
Amid these public calls from government officials, the incumbent President said the renaming of the airport was "not a priority."
"I have no strong feelings about it. When people want to rename the airport and they get public support for it, then yes, go ahead. If not, no,” he said.