UK airport to serve as ‘template’ for NAIA

2ND BUSIEST IN UK File photo shows passengers jets load and unload passengers and cargo at London Gatwick Airport outside of London. —REUTERS

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is planning to use London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom as a “template for operations” to be adopted in the Philippines as part of the efforts to improve the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) in a statement on Wednesday said Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has pledged its commitment to invest in the Philippines to help enhance the transportation system.

GIP is one of the world’s largest infrastructure investors in London and comanages the Gatwick Airport.

Bautista participated in a comprehensive tour at Gatwick Airport on May 6 with President Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez and “explored first-hand the array of best practices that are currently being implemented in the airport.”

The President had “a productive meeting” with GIP, which he described as the company behind Gatwick’s “exceptional infrastructure, technology and operations.”

“Our vision for safe, efficient and sustainable airports in the Philippines is one step closer to reality,” Mr. Marcos said in a Twitter post.

‘Boost tourism’

The President said “we gathered valuable insights to improve Philippine airports and boost tourism at home.”

On April 28, the DOTr and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced that they received a P100 billion unsolicited proposal from the Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC) to operate and maintain Naia.

The MIAC is backed by six Philippine conglomerates together with the US-based GIP.

At the sidelines of a press briefing with the Makati Business Club, Bautista said he would “continue to do [his] work” following speculations that he might be replaced due to the transportation problems in the country.

“If you are a cabinet secretary, you serve at the pleasure of the President,” he said.

The agency is currently facing various issues including the power outage at Naia on May 1 and shortage of driver’s licenses, among others.

The transport chief said they were targeting to finish the procurement of plastic cards by June so they could restock the supply by July or August.

Power outage

An eight-hour power outage earlier hit one of Naia’s terminals on May 1, affecting thousands of passengers and several domestic and international flights.

A day after the power outage, MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong received the suspension order from the Office of the Ombudsman—a decision questioned by Bautista for its supposed lack of due process.“I was informed that he was never asked to explain nor [was] he aware that a case was filed against him,” Bautista said in the briefing on Wednesday.