A MODERNIZED and improved Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will spur economic growth in the country and open opportunities for investments, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

Secretary Bautista said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pursuing the development of the NAIA to increase its capacity to accommodate more flights and passengers, and enhance the airport’s security and efficiency while attracting a constant flow of revenue streams.

“The rehabilitation and operation of NAIA through a PPP arrangement represent a landmark opportunity for our nation,” the transport chief said during the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Pre-Bid Conference at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters in Pasig City.

To optimize the airport’s potential, a modernized airport is necessary to enhance its facilities, which adhere to international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to Secretary Bautista.

Once the modernization of NAIA is complete, its runway capacity will increase at least 48 air traffic movements at peak hourly rate. Similarly, the airport’s passenger capacity is expected to accommodate 62 million passengers annually.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi