MY congratulations to the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Co Consortium for winning the bidding for the project to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

With this development, the Filipinos’ dream to have a worldclass airport is about to come true.

The Consortium, composed of SMC, RMN Asian Logistics, RLW Aviation, and Incheon International Airport Corp.,(IIAC) is honored to spearhead the project.
Commendations should also be given to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), led by Secretary Jaime Bautista, for conducting a fair and comprehensive bidding process.

And of course, praises should go to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration for its commitment to modernizing NAIA.
The consortium’s proposal is designed not only to elevate NAIA to world-class standards but also to ensure that the government benefits from the most advantageous revenue-sharing agreement.

It aims to secure a favorable outcome for the group’s shareholders while prioritizing fairness and long-term sustainability over immediate profits.

Recognizing the weight of the responsibility entrusted to them, the consortium is committed to collaborating closely with the government and our various stakeholders

It vowed to harness every resource available to them to transform NAIA into a modern international gateway that Filipinos will be proud of.

Meanwhile, efforts to stop the consortium from bagging the project proved to be futile as the group submitted a bid offer far more
superior than those given by competitors.

Last year, NAIA has been the subject of controversies — from the system glitch fiasco that stalled hundreds of flights in January, to the dismissal of two of its top officials in August.

In sime instances, power outage hit the NAIA, and its personnel got involved in alleged theft and security breach.

Further, passengers have been lamenting over the ling queues, delay in baggage release, and recurrent flight delays.

After winning the bid, the SMC-led consortium will now focus on developing an airport ecosystem that promotes better connectivity, high-quality service, and operational efficiency while offering affordable and accessible travel options for Filipinos.

SMC president Ramon Ang said they aim to elevate NAIA to world-class standard, ensuring an exceptional experience for all travelers with first-rate services and facilities.

He said his group is committedis to ensure the project brings significant value and advantages to the nation, government, and the Filipinos.

Ang also highlighted its strategic collaboration with IIAC which is the developer and operator of the Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea, which opened in 2001.

Incheon International Airport was ranked by air transport research firm Skytrax as the 4th best airport in the world in 2022 and the world’s first airport to be awarded the highest level of customer experience by the trade association of the world’s airports, Airports Council International.

He also pointed to the potential synergies with its ongoing development of the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan. This concurrent development is expected to enhance operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and optimize flight schedules, contributing to a more connected and accessible Philippines poised for future growth.

Our countrymen could now be very optimistic of having an integrated airport network that not only improves the travel experience but also supports sustainable economic growth and elevates the Philippines as a prime hub for tourism.