THE country’s premier airport remitted to the national coffers some P3.42 billion, a record-breaking fiscal performance from January to December 2018.
Last year’s dividend payment to the national government was the highest in Manila International Airport Authority’s history, exceeding by more than 50 percent the 2017 remittance, according to Connie Bungag, head of the agency’s Public Affairs Office. She said the Miaa is mandated to remit at least 50 percent of its annual net income to the government after it was granted fiscal autonomy during the term of President Corazon C. Aquino.
Since the Duterte administration took office in 2016, the Miaa dividend payments have significantly increased.
On top of the P3.42-billion dividends, the Miaa remitted P5.4 billion in corporate income taxes and the government’s share in the airport’s gross revenues from the fees of departing passengers for 2018.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade commended the Miaa for its stellar performance. “I am elated that the Miaa has once again exceeded its last fiscal performance. My congratulations to the leadership and ranks of Miaa for your sterling numbers. The Filipino people stand to benefit from your good work,” Tugade said.
Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal urged the men and women serving the country’s premier gateway to continue to improve fiscal management and allocation of resources to ensure effective and efficient delivery of airport services at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“The Miaa remains committed in bettering its fiscal management, as we also work on improving the infrastructure and operations of Naia. Ultimately, our fiscal performance should resonate in our efforts in making each airport passenger satisfied beyond expectations,” Monreal said.
He also thanked the chief of the Department of Transportation for instilling in attached agencies President Duterte’s main directive to the DOTr to make the Filipino life comfortable through better operational management, transformational initiatives and infrastructure spending.
The Miaa hopes that with its strong fiscal showing in 2018, it will land a spot again in the “Billionaires’ Club,” an elite circle of GOCCs contributing billions of pesos in dividends to the national government.