Group seeks suspension of NAIA lease rate hike

A civil society group, Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and the Environment Inc., is urging Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon to suspend the proposed lease rate increase at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). 

The group describes the increases as "exorbitant" and demands a transparent review process. 

The group warned that the rate hike could lead to significant price increase for goods and services at the NAIA, affecting consumers and tourists, both foreign and domestic.

The planned adjustments, introduced by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), reportedly range from 300% to as high as 1,000%.

“These drastic rate hikes will inevitably drive up operational costs for airport concessionaires, which will ultimately be passed on to Filipino consumers,” said BenCyrus Ellorin, president of Pinoy Aksyon. 

“The recent 400% surge in parking fees is already a red flag. We must prevent further economic pressure on the public, especially in these challenging times.”

The group said that such steep increases will have far-reaching consequences, disproportionately impacting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), domestic travelers and the tourism sector. 

Meanwhile, tourists and OFWs based in the northern provinces, as well as travel agencies here, also agree with the suspension of the proposed lease rate hike.

They said that basic goods and services within the airport will definitely be affected and will increase once the lease rate hike is implemented.

The added financial strain could ripple through the economy compounding inflation and undermining consumer confidence.

In its letter to the transportation chief, Pinoy Aksyon laid out key demands such as the immediate suspension of the proposed lease rate increases; the comprehensive review of the pricing structure and justifications behind the hike; and extensive public consultations with affected stakeholders, including business owners, passenger groups, and civil society organizations.

Ellorin also questioned the speed at which the NAIA concession deal was approved and implemented, noting that user fees were raised even before significant private investment had materialized.

“There are serious concerns about the process and timing of this agreement,” he said. 

While the group acknowledges the government's intent to upgrade NAIA through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, it stressed the importance of ensuring transparency, fairness and public benefit in all decisions affecting vital infrastructure.

Pinoy Aksyon now awaits Dizon’s response, hopeful that the administration will heed the call for accountability and protect the public from undue financial burden.