The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) abolished 844 plantilla positions after the company bought the airport last month. About 500 of these jobs were filled by regular employees. The abolition of the positions is said to be included in the transition of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) from a management role to a mere “regulatory” agency.

The MIAA and SMC claim that they did not lay off the regular employees because they will be absorbed by NNIC. No workers will supposedly be “fired.” As a consolation, the government allegedly gave sufficient separation pay.

“The layoff of over 800 regular workers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) proves what we have been saying all along: privatization has no other result but massive layoffs and the denial of public services to the people,” Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Jerome Adonis said. He said that SMC and its owner Ramon Ang are using “reorganization” to cover the fact that the takeover of NAIA has resulted in job losses.

“Privatization also directly results in increased fees,” he added. Just a week after Ang took over NAIA, the airport increased its parking fees from ₱40 to ₱50 for the first two hours, and from ₱300 to ₱1,200 for overnight parking.

Other services such as individual passenger fees or requests for special services for those in need have been increased by 900%, from ₱800 to ₱8,000 (also called VIP rates), and up to ₱140,000 for those traveling in groups. This is to limit special services only to the wealthiest or elite.

“What workers and the people need are jobs with security and affordable quality services,” Adonis said. “The goal of privatization contradicts the needs of workers and the people because privatization essentially aims to gain huge profits through capitalists’ ventures into the basic needs of the people. Therefore, it is not development, but a hindrance.”