Rights groups hit planned airport fees hike, urge transparency

Passengers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3 in Paranaque City on Sunday, March 3, 2024. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Consumer and transportation rights groups on Thursday hit the planned increase in airport fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), calling for greater transparency on the deliverables that are meant to improve the country’s primary gateway.

The Consumers Union of the Philippines (CUP), the Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, at Kuryente (BK3) and the Airport Watch PH made the call in their own separate statements in the wake of the looming privatization of NAIA.

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

The CUP said that while it supports efforts to improve NAIA, it was also concerned over reports of price hikes in the terminal fees and other airport charges.

“If charges and fees are increased in the airport, we are certain that the burden will be passed to the consumers. It is not unreasonable nor selfish for a consumer to demand greater transparency on the basis of such increases,” CUP president Rodel Taton said in a message sent to the Inquirer.

“We demand an explanation. We need an acceptable reason for these pending increases on charges and other fees considering that there are no improvements that have been shown yet. It is unreasonable to ask the riding public to shoulder costs before they even receive any benefits,” he added.

Similarly, the BK3 group called on the government and the winning airport rehabilitation consortium to show proof of improvements at NAIA before asking passengers to pay higher fees.

“Airport fees are expected to naturally increase but the promised rehabilitation must be completed first,” BK3 secretary-general Patrick Climaco said in a statement.

“Contrary to the expected progressive change, we will face another severe blow because the airport fee will be implemented recklessly and hastily without the people feeling the benefit and comfort of its promise first,” he added.

For the group Airport Watch PH, the impact of the proposed airport fees is a glaring issue, highlighting that it was not even tackled during the hearing on July 31 at the House of Representatives on issues at the NAIA.

“It is concerning that this is yet to be resolved and was done without any consideration or consultation from stakeholders” said the group’s spokesperson Danilo Lorenzo Delos Santos.

“A much-needed compromise and resolution on this matter will be a significant step to regain the public’s trust and show that the welfare of the public is central to the mission of San Miguel Corporation as the partner of nation-building,” he added.

Inquirer tried to reach the DOTr for comment on the issue but it has yet to reply as of writing.

READ: DOTr tries to justify hike in Naia charges

Earlier in July, transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the passenger terminal fees at the soon-to-be-privatized Naia would spike to P950 next year from around P500 to P550 currently.

Takeoff and landing fees charged to airlines are also expected to increase before the end of the year, with the increase in the amount yet to be revealed publicly.

A consortium led by conglomerate San Miguel Corp. won the P170.6-billion rehabilitation contract to upgrade NAIA, which has been considered one of the worst airports in the world in the last few years.