No workers displaced despite abolition of 844 permanent posts amid NAIA privatization — MIAA

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Thursday said no workers from the agency were displaced after it abolished over 800 plantilla or permanent positions when it relinquished the operations and management of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the private sector.

MIAA General Manager Eric Ines, in the flag raising ceremony early this week, announced that as part of MIAA’s transition to being solely a regulator of NAIA, “a total of 844 plantilla positions were abolished.”

Sought to clarify the move, Ines, in a phone interview, said that only less than 500 of the 844 permanent posts were filled up.

“Definitely no displacement,” he said, noting that those who held the positions in MIAA were transferred to San Miguel-led New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) —the new operator of the country’s main gateway.

Ines said the transfer of employees, who were part of MIAA’s operations group, to NNIC was part of the concession agreement inked by the government and the San Miguel-led group.

Earlier this year, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista reassured personnel of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) that none of them will be displaced as the government is set to turn over the operations and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the private sector.

The NNIC — made up of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp. — took over the operations of NAIA on September 14, 2024.

Nevertheless, those who were transferred to NNIC will be given their Separation Incentive Pay (SIP) to ensure fair compensation after their departure from MIAA.

Ines earlier said that MIAA’s proposed new organizational structure, as being a regulator of NAIA, has already been submitted to the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) for approval.

The MIAA chief said that once approved, the new structure will help streamline operations and strengthen the agency’s regulatory capacity, ensuring that the agency can effectively monitor the progress and development of NAIA. —RF, GMA Integrated News