BIZ BUZZ: Who doesn’t want a new and improved Naia?

The question arises as indeed, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, to borrow a line from Winston Churchill.

Every Filipino, at least those who have flown at least once through the country’s primary gateway and have seen firsthand how badly it needs to be improved, would vote with their hands and feet for a better airport.

Thus it is a bit of a headscratcher that advocacy group Kapisanan ng Nagtitiis na Mananakay would get a restraining order and eventually an injunction that will ultimately lead to the inefficient flow of cargo from warehouse to aircraft.

To recall, a project had been approved in December last year to open a new gate with ramp access for efficient cargo movement.

The group, however, opposed the project on grounds that it would only benefit certain cargo companies and may harm smaller operators and the general public.

The court had found merit in their plea.

The Manila International Airport Authority, for its part, had wanted a new gate because another injunction, issued in 2020, closed the gate of Miascor, once a major cargo player at Naia.

So now, Naia is left with two gates – meant for a better airport – closed down by the courts, at least for now.

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The question now is who will ultimately benefit from closing down the two gates and making cargo movement more complicated – and expensive – than it should be?

Not the consortium led by San Miguel Corp. that is set to take over Naia this weekend and get the process started to make the gateway one that long-suffering Filipinos deserve.

SMC offered the largest amount to the government as payment for the right to improve NAIA. It needs revenues to make good on its bid and the injunctions will most certainly get in their way.

Tycoon Ramon S. Ang is known, however, for getting his way. So perhaps feared bad actors at NAIA have finally met their match? Abangan!