Porters wait to assist travellers as dark clouds roll by at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on September 4, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Wednesday clarified that VIP services offered in airports would not bypass any airport processes despite the steeper fee.

• MIAA: Passengers who used VIP service still went through Customs, Immigration

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) earlier hiked the fee for VIP service in the Philippines’ main gateway to P8,000 from P800. 

“Wala pong naba-bypass na airport processes,” said Chris Bendijo, head executive assistant of the MIAA. 

“Sa madaling salita, even if VIP kayo, mag-avail po kayo ng VIP services, dadaan pa din po kayo sa customs, security and quarantine services ng airport,” he said. 

(There is no bypass of airport processes. In other words, even if you pay for VIP services, you will still need to go through customs, security and quarantine services)

The VIP service was initially free and was only extended “as a courtesy for other government and other states” visiting the Philippines,” the MIAA official said, noting that it “slowly evolved into a payable service and it was opened to the public.” 

• P800 lang VIP na? NAIA management tightens airport VIP services to prevent 'misuse'

The VIP service fee was hiked to gradually discourage the public from availing it, he said. 

“I think it is their intention to sort of discourage itong pag-aavail ng VIP services because with the introduction of their technology, their renovation, their improvements, ang hangarin nila ay hindi na mangangailangan ng VIP service (the goal is for VIP servies to no longer be necessary),” he said.

“Kailangan natin i-balance yung security natin para masiguro na hindi maaabuso ito,” he said. 

(We need to balance this with security so it will not be abused)

The new price for the service comes as the Philippines gradually transitions the operations and management of its main gateway to a private contractor. 

Privatization, usually through concessions and public-private partnerships, is seen as a way to improve public services. It also raises concerns of higher fees to allow concessionaires and private firms to earn back their investments.

The MIAA, which has been managing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for decades, will serve as a regulator with the entry of the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. in September.

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