An alliance of airport workers and civil society organizations is calling for an independent investigation into the PHP1.5 trillion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and San Miguel Corporation’s New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) for the redevelopment and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a statement, the group PUSO ng NAIA, representing aviation employees and air passengers, urged the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and Congress to launch a comprehensive probe into what it described as a “controversial and opaque” concession deal. The coalition warned that the agreement shows similarities to irregular public works contracts that have historically cost taxpayers billions, citing potential corruption and provisions that allegedly favor private interests.
According to PUSO ng NAIA, the PHP1.5-trillion deal appears to have been structured to benefit San Miguel Corporation and its chairperson, Ramon Ang, while discouraging competition and undermining public accountability. The group said that more than a year after the contract was awarded, there have been no visible major improvements at NAIA — only the imposition of new and higher airport fees that burden travelers and workers alike.
The organization further accused NNIC and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) of violating key transparency provisions in their PPP contract by failing to appoint an Independent Consultant (IC), a requirement designed to ensure fair oversight, compliance, and accountability in the project’s implementation.
PUSO ng NAIA emphasized that the contract, being imbued with public interest, must prioritize the welfare of Filipino air passengers and aviation employees rather than private profits. It warned that without proper oversight, the deal could lead to “25 years of guaranteed higher airport costs,” effectively burdening around 45 million annual passengers in favor of the private concessionaire.
The group called on both the ICI and Congress to conduct a full and independent review of the NNIC-MIAA PPP agreement, urging lawmakers to “redeem public trust” by siding with Filipino air travelers over billionaire contractors.
PUSO ng NAIA reiterated its stance that the NAIA modernization project should not become a “ghost service” for the public — a massive, taxpayer-backed enterprise that enriches private interests while failing to deliver tangible improvements in airport service and accessibility.