NAIA Concession Deal Faces New Legal Challenge at Supreme Court

Another legal challenge has been filed before the Supreme Court (SC) against the concession agreement that handed over the management of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to San Miguel Corporation’s New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Lawyers Rico Domingo and Ceasar Oracion lodged a petition for certiorari and prohibition, seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction to halt the implementation of the agreement. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and other involved government bodies were named as respondents.

The petitioners argued that the bidding process was flawed because it proceeded under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, which they claim was effectively repealed by the newly enacted Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, Republic Act 11966. They also criticized the lack of local government consultation and absence of Sanggunian approval.

This marks the second legal petition against the controversial deal. Previously, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon defended the agreement, stating it was lawfully conducted with technical guidance from the Asian Development Bank.

The government maintains that the concession was executed with full transparency and integrity.