Duterte warns of military takeover for NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte on Thursday warned that he will order the military to take over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport if NAIA officials do not improve its operations.

“Yang NAIA na ‘yan ‘pag hindi kayo nag-improve diyan, magtake-over diyan Air Force. ‘Yan lang ang paraan diyan (If you don’t improve operations, the Air Force will take over. That is the only way),” he said in a speech during a proclamation rally in Puerto Princesa on Thursday night.

Duterte noted that Bureau of Customs officials mended their ways when he ordered former military officer Rey Guerrero to shoot smugglers and stamp out corruption in the BOC.

The President has expressed displeasure over the slow-paced implementation of reform measures in many government agencies and the snail-paced completion of projects.

Duterte’s announcement comes after Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on March 26 that if an agreement was not reached with the NAIA Consortium by April 30, the DOTr may take over the rehabilitation of the airport.

The NAIA Consortium is composed of Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Its technical partner is Singapore’s Changi Airports International.

Reports said the consortium received an original proponent status for its P102-billion offer in August last year to expand NAIA’s capacity through a 15-year concession. 

The first phase involves improving and expanding the terminals to increase the NAIA’s capacity to 65 million passengers.

The second phase involves the construction of more runways, taxiways, passenger terminals and support infrastructure.