Malasakit—caring in English—has become the motto of sorts for San Miguel Corporation. It was front and center most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the country’s oldest and most respected conglomerates did a lot of good, whether it was towards their employees or the public in general. As the country moved forward, San Miguel Corporation found a renewed fervor—one that had them tackling the task of nation-building.
One of the most ambitious projects it’s about to take on is the rehabilitation and modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Continually ranked as one of the world’s worst airports, San Miguel Corporation, together with its partner, Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation, has, undoubtedly, a mountain to climb. They set a series of goals—immediate, short, and long-term all to the tune of P 170-billion.
As a frequent traveler, nothing much has changed in the condition of the airport about half a month into NNIC’s turnover. The same escalators don’t work and the bathrooms smell like a beer house’s on a Friday night. What has changed though is the amount you will have to pay for parking. In what’s considered by many as a very “un-malasakit move,” the first MIAA Administrative Order passed by NNIC is to increase the public parking rates by up to 400 percent.
In gist, the first two hours of parking costs P 50 now, up from P 40 from before. This is modest, considering how much something like Terminal 3’s neighboring Newport World Resorts (formerly Resorts World Manila) would charge. However, what comes as a big shock is the overnight rates. From P 300 a night, a 24-hour stay will now cost four-wheeled vehicles P 1,200.
Now, NNIC says the adjustments “are not intended to generate profit, but rather, to optimize parking for passengers.” In turn, they believe it will “create a more efficient and passenger-friendly airport experience.”
I’d like to give San Miguel Corporation and NNIC the benefit of the doubt, but you do have to understand the optics here. With no prior announcement or anything (not even a posting on the much-fangled New NAIA social media account), it has caught travelers such as myself off-guard. From a company being known for malasakit, some saw the surprising move as the very reason for any company’s existence: makapera (to make money).
Making matters worse, the pricing is gouging at its finest and shows just how out of touch NNIC’s finance people are with reality. If their reason is to adjust the parking fees to more appropriate levels today, P 300 in 2014, would be, inflation adjusted, equate to P 400 today. Even if we were to compare what P 300 would be worth in the year 2000, it would be P 700 today. In short, most view the increase in parking rates as quick way for San Miguel Corporation to recoup their investment. And remember, the new rates come with zero improvements to the current parking facilities. As it stands, NAIA’s parking areas are mostly decrepit with occasional stray dogs or even indigent beggars asking for alms. If NNIC came clean and admitted to needing to make money out of this, then that’s fine. But to say otherwise? Sorry, it’s all smoke and mirrors at this point.
No doubt, some have welcomed the move, especially since it will discourage the use of terminals as a long-term parking facility. However, hopefully the NNIC management understands that this move severely limits the already scarce transportation options to and from the airport that’s affordable, safe, and reliable. As someone who flys for work regularly and lives at the outskirts of Metro Manila, parking a car at the airport is the most convenient, and sometimes, the only option. In the past year, I tried using a taxi or a ride-hailing app like Grab. Let’s just say, the experience was nerve-racking. It’s the same experience for pilots or cabin crew who travel to and from NAIA on a regular basis. There are private options like Park ‘N Fly too, and if they keep their P 500-ish pricing intact, most would probably look at this as an alternative. Unfortunately, because they park cars off-site, sometimes it takes forever for their complimentary shuttle to arrive. What’s worse, the traffic by Domestic Road—where their facility is—is almost always snarled in traffic.
And remember, the new parking rates is just the tip of the iceberg. NNIC will be on a charging spree. This includes charging passenger higher airport fees by next year—up by 95 percent some cases. In any solid business case, people are willing to pay more if it comes with an experience that’s vis-à-vis to the amount they’re shelling out for. Right now, the Filipino public is paying more for the same old shit.
cars parking along the road will surely increase for those fetching arriving passengers and will result to heavier traffic. grab will charge more due to increase of passengers who will avail their service. in the end, passengers and motoring public loses and BIG companies wins.
ReplyDeletesame thoughts. SMC is saying na kaya maraming naghihintay sa roadside is because walang available slots sa pay parking dahil sa mga nag overnight park. I doubt this kasi most of the time, wala namang pila. ayaw lang talaga magbayad ng mga tao. so lalo ngayon na mas mahal na.
DeleteSan Miguel has always had BS propaganda similar to the Chinese Communist Party
ReplyDeleteNaia is decaying, ph govt very not good in managing it. lets give SMC at least a year to greatly improve it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder kung anong comment dito ni James D? He always call the attention if may mga ganito na issue pero mukhang tahimik. Maybe beceause SMC ang involve?
ReplyDelete"...this move severely limits the already scarce transportation options to and from the airport that’s affordable, safe, and reliable. As someone who flys for work regularly and lives at the outskirts of Metro Manila, parking a car at the airport is the most convenient, and sometimes, the only option."
ReplyDeletesame here. mas mura pa rin sa amin mag park ng 1 week kesa mag taxi o grab papunta at pabalik. dagdag mo pa yung hirap ng pag kuha ng masasakyan lalo pauwi at rush hour.
Wrong move for SMC. Parking services should have been improved significantly before imposing higher fees.
ReplyDeleteIt turns out this move by SMC is weed out the abusers as published in the Philstar column of Alex Magno, see below gist:
ReplyDelete"For instance, the parking area for Terminal 3 is constantly congested. It turns out, residents of nearby condominium buildings, instead of paying for parking slots where they live, chose to use the airport’s parking area, taking advantage of the ridiculously low parking rates, especially for overnight parking.
In addition, government employees assigned to the airport likewise use the parking facility for free. They sometimes store their second cars there, adding to the congestion."
Then institute a validation system. Sadly, it's not even offered as an option.
DeleteI would have to disagree with Uly on this one. I also travel a lot, but I do have a driver who can take me to and from the airport. Maybe that's why I have a different take on this. While I agree that this looks like a feckless money grab, I think this will help decongest NAIA traffic since it'll free up scarce parking slots in the airport. Parking slots will have higher turnover rates due to the astronomical prices, leaving them vacant for cars that'll only park for an hour or so. More waiting cars will be able to park, rather than clog the streets along NAIA (My driver is sometimes guilty of this because he can't find parking).
ReplyDeleteNot everyone has a driver, sadly. If I had one, I won't complain about this.
Delete"New Price For The Same Old Sh*t"
ReplyDeleteIsn't that like, Toyota's motto?
Been seeing photos of NAIA's parking facilities whether it's at T1, T2 or T3. Guess what's the scenario now? Since SMC-NNIC increased the parking rates, especially the overnight rates, lahat ng parking facilities ng NAIA biglang lumuwag, lalo na yung multi level parking ng T3. Di na ako mahihirapan magpark pag magsusundo ako sa airport. NNIC did weed out those who park at the airport's parking facilities that don't have any business at all in the airport. Looks like the rate increase was a move in the right direction after all.
ReplyDeleteMost of those were shared by publications/people under their PR payroll. But yes, it did weed out people who used the parking lot even if they had zero business at the airport.
DeleteFor those of us who use the overnight parking because of work though, we had to use other options. In my case, each time I travel, I'm now at the mercy of a driver/car for hire. It's costing me at least least three times than before, but it's still cheaper than parking overnight at NAIA for a 4-day trip (I computed the breakeven).