Cartoon by: Jemima Martha Seguerra
Published by: Michelle Piquero
Date Published: October 25, 2024
Time Published: 2:48 PM
When it comes to innovation, the Philippines surely has a lot to offer to the locals and tourists. However, some innovations in our country such as the aviation sector require further development for tourist and economic growth. In a recent survey that was conducted earlier this year, the Philippines ranked 4th among the worst airports in Asia. With the airport being labeled as inefficient for lacking seats despite being crowded and having outdated facilities that cause major inconvenience to the passengers.
In relation to this, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was recently turned over to the care of the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) on September 14, 2024, with the aim to modernize the 76-year-old airport [1]. Holding on to the long list of their ambitious goals for NAIA, this turnover does seem promising since the airport has the potential to stand tall beside world-class airports. Aside from improving the infrastructure, the private operator can also guarantee a healthy stream of income that our government can use to fund more projects. While in the hands of a new operator, could this privatization finally raise the bar in terms of airport management?
This project is a gradual process that involves time and careful planning for a seamless transition so we must not rush how the new operator would manage it. The NNIC General Manager Angelito Alvarez also explained that what matters the most is to ensure minimal disruption for passengers, especially during this Christmas season [2]. On top of this, the NNIC promises to complete their short term goals which include renovating the comfort rooms, improving air conditioners, and enhancing the baggage handling. If these plans are carried out, the passengers will highly benefit from it since they will no longer have to worry about any discomfort before or after their flight.
Moreover, the private operator assured that they will be lending a hand to those employees that are affected by the turnover. The general manager of the former NAIA operator Eric Ines stated that 429 out of 1,200 organic employees were hired by the NNIC after they applied [3]. This employment offer by the new operator shows that they are capable of providing a new home to those who would like to continue serving the main gateway of our country.
The modernization of NAIA is truly an innovation that we can look forward to in the upcoming years. Our authorities should no longer delay any infrastructure in need of development if we want to see our country reach an international level rather than being constantly marked as one of the worst. It’s important to sustain our technologies and innovations if we want to attract more tourists, show what we have to offer, and elevate our country’s economy.
REFERENCES:
[1] Zurbano, J. (2024, September 14) NNIC takes over NAIA management. Manila Standard.
https://manilastandard.net/.../nnic-takes-over-naia...
[2] Loyola, J. (2024, September 12) NNIC assures NAIA changes will be gradual. Manila Bulletin.
https://mb.com.ph/.../nnic-assures-naia-changes-will-be...
[3] Santos, R. (2024, September 14) NAIA turned over today to new operator. Philstar Global.
https://www.philstar.com/.../naia-turned-over-today-new...
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