Petition Seeks to Nullify NAIA PPP Agreement
A coalition of concerned citizens, taxpayers, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and airport employees have urged the Supreme Court to nullify the 2024 administrative order and the public-private partnership (PPP) agreement concerning Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). They warned that the deal threatens to increase travel costs for millions of Filipinos, especially OFWs.
The petition directly challenges Revised Administrative Order (AO) No. 1, Series of 2024, along with the concession agreement signed with San Miguel Corporation’s New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC). Petitioners argue these documents bypassed public participation and violated due process by approving sweeping airport fee hikes without proper consultation.
Concerns Over Fee Hikes and Lack of Public Input
“This was done without genuine public consultation. Not one OFW, not one airport worker, not one ordinary passenger was meaningfully heard before these rate increases were approved,” lawyer Christopher “Kit” Belmonte said, emphasizing that the process ignored the voices of key stakeholders.
He added, “It’s not just bad policy — it’s a violation of the law and the Constitution.” Community members highlighted that the affected fees include passenger processing charges (PSC) at check-in counters and self-check kiosks, concession privilege fees, and royalties on aviation fuel and lubricants.
Additional Fees and Impending Rate Adjustments
Other regulated charges impacted by AO No. 1 cover vehicle parking fees and miscellaneous expenses such as electric power, water, and communication fees. These fees can be increased 15 days after the last publication of the order, which was on September 5, 2025.
Sources noted that the airport operator is expected to implement upward adjustments on certain fees starting September 20, 2024. This imminent hike prompted the petitioners to seek Supreme Court intervention, demanding strict compliance with the Manila International Airport Authority’s (MIAA) administrative process for fee adjustments.
Request for Temporary Restraining Order
While the case is pending, petitioners have asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of AO No. 1. They argue that the current process lacks transparency and fails to meet substantive and procedural legal requirements for rate setting.
Transfer of Authority and Financial Clauses Raise Alarm
Belmonte also voiced concerns about transferring authority to NNIC, which grants the company power to impose “non-regulated fees” without government oversight or clear standards. Additionally, a “Deficit Payment Clause” could compel the government to subsidize NNIC if proposed rate increases are rejected.
He warned, “These hikes will come straight out of the pockets of our OFWs, travelers, and even the very workers who keep NAIA running. And they are not tied to any guaranteed improvement in service. This is privatization without accountability.”
Calls for Lawful and Transparent Airport Upgrading
Despite their opposition, the petitioners clarified that they are not against upgrading NAIA. “This petition is not against upgrading NAIA,” Belmonte stated. “We want progress, but it must be done lawfully, transparently, and with the people’s voice at the center of the process.”
Community members and local leaders continue to monitor the case closely, emphasizing the need for fairness and public involvement in decisions affecting millions of travelers.
For more news and updates on NAIA PPP deal, visit Filipinokami.com.
