A Parañaque court halted the opening of a new gate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a move that could potentially lead to flight delays.
Approved by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) in December 2024, the new gate was intended to improve cargo efficiency.
The court issued the ruling based on a lawsuit filed by Marlon Rivera, representing Kapisanan ng mga Nagtitiis na Mananakay and Jonathan Saguil who alleged that the project was an “illegal alienation … of public property.”
The plaintiffs argued that the gate would grant exclusive access to certain cargo companies, potentially harming smaller operators and the general public. They also filed a P2-million bond.
The court, acting on the June 3, 2024 complaint, issued a temporary restraining order on June 19 and followed it up with a writ of preliminary injunction on July 29.
MIAA said in its reply the plaintiffs had no right to file the lawsuit because they would not suffer any injury from the consequent efficient airport operation.
The new gate would have allowed other cargo companies to also serve the roughly 30 airlines that operate at NAIA and compete with existing ones.
MIAA said its December decision was “aimed at the public purpose of upgrading and providing safe, efficient and reliable airport facilities for international and domestic travel”.
It said the new gate with ramp access would facilitate the “movement of cargo between warehouses and aircraft… [and] to meet deadlines and mitigate delays especially with respect to time-sensitive goods such as perishable items, medical supplies and urgent shipments”.
MIAA said that in effect, the new gate with ramp access would “benefit not only cargo operators, the airport management, but ultimately the general flying public”.
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