PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday visited the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to inspect ongoing improvements being implemented by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), the private consortium now operating the country’s main gateway.
NNIC, led by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and CEO Ramon S. Ang, took over NAIA operations in September 2024 under a ₱170.6-billion public-private partnership with the government.
Since the handover, the group has focused on modernizing infrastructure and streamlining services at the 76-year-old airport. Among the targets are upgraded runways, taxiways, and passenger processing systems designed to nearly double NAIA’s capacity from 32 million to 60 million passengers annually.
Ang personally welcomed Marcos at the terminal, where he was joined by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eric Jose Ines, and NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez.
The President toured several key areas of Terminal 3, including the immigration zone, facilities for overseas Filipino workers, the transport network vehicle services (TNVS) area, and the arrival curbside. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Patricia Caunan accompanied him during the inspection of OFW-related amenities.
During the visit, Marcos acknowledged the upgrades and cited the improvements made since NNIC assumed control of NAIA operations.
“Kaya nandito tayo at tiningnan ko, at masasabi ko naman na marami na rin talaga tayong naging pagbabago,” the President said.
Earlier this year, NNIC signed a partnership with global airport tech firm Collins Aerospace to roll out advanced systems including a Common Use Passenger Processing System and self-service kiosks for check-in and baggage drop-off. Completion is targeted by September 2025.
The NAIA rehabilitation is part of the Marcos administration’s broader infrastructure agenda aimed at boosting connectivity and upgrading the country’s transport hubs to meet growing demand across Southeast Asia.
