San Miguel, partners should absorb cost of Naia rehab, says group

The San Miguel Corp.-led consortium, which is the government’s private sector partner for the rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), should absorb the financial burden of an imminent terminal fee hike instead of passing this cost to passengers, according to a group of consumer welfare advocates.

Patrick Climaco, secretary general of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente or BK3, said in a statement on Tuesday that the looming increase in airport fees will burn a deeper hole in the passengers’ pockets, including the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

READ: DOTR: No stopping hikes in Naia fees, charges

“The welfare of the majority of travelers, who can only afford the budget fares, should take precedence. Let us consider the millions of OFWs enduring the heartache of being separated from their families and toiling far from home to provide the needed support for their loved ones,” Climaco said.

For BK3, said the San Miguel-led New Naia Infrastructure Corp. should bear the brunt of additional costs because the consortium would earn from running the country’s main gateway in the long run.

The Department of Transportation estimated that the government would generate P900 billion or 36 billion annually over the course of a 25-year concession period.

This includes the P30-billion upfront payment, the P2 billion annuity payment and revenue share. INQ