THE turnover to private concessionaire New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is going smoothly. The scheduled turnover of NAIA to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. is scheduled on September 14, 2024.
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim said the Department of Transportation under Sec. Jimmy Bautista and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) headed by Eric Ines as general manager are conducting monthly joint steering committee talks with New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. to ensure smooth transition process with the latter expected to take over the operation and maintenance of the airport next month.
“Both the concessionaire and government have been holding a joint steering committee hearing roughly once a month to tackle transition issues,” Usec. Lim told the House Committee on Appropriations during the hearing on the proposed 2025 DOTr budget.
The transport executive said the issues discussed with the private concessionaire include early works at the NAIA, including the OFW lounge, layout of terminals, and other facilities.
Usec. Lim likewise said the DOTr has presented to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. the MIAA employee structure as airport regulator, saying the agency is awaiting approval from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) for plantilla positions. At least 77.5% of MIAA employees have agreed on the employment offered by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp., according to Usec. Lim.
He added that the airport police and other essential MIAA employees will be retained as organic personnel.
“Since the concession agreement mandates that the concessionaire offers employment to MIAA employees, except for the airport police, which will be retained as an organic team and some essential MIAA employees to continue its function as regulator,” he said.
