THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has a capacity of 32 million passengers per year.
However, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) NAIA handles up to 50 million passengers annually.
This resulted in airport congestion, leading to frequent damage to facilities and equipment.
Elevators, escalators, and walkalators often break down due to the uncontrolled influx of passengers at NAIA.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stated that reforms at the airport should be noticeable by next year.
“Well, by early next year, we should see reforms and improvements. You know, our elevators, escalators, and walkalators should be fixed. The winning bidder has already started ordering parts, so everything should be in order by Christmas,” said Sec. Jaime Bautista, DOTr.
Bautista also mentioned that they are coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) through the Department of Justice (DOJ) to add more immigration counters to address a primary concern for departing passengers who often face long lines before reaching the boarding gate.
“We will increase the number of immigration counters at Terminal 3 by almost 20% immediately. We will also add more counters and enhance their automated systems,” said Bautista.
The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), led by San Miguel Corp., emerged as the winning consortium for the NAIA privatization project. Under their management, NAIA is expected to undergo renovations, aiming for a cleaner and more comfortable experience before next year’s Holy Week.
