The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) has uncollected hangar-rental fees amounting to P722 million, not P100 million as earlier announced.
The hangars are at the general aviation area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). Their operators failed to settle their rentals for so many years, according to Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal.
Airport insiders said the four hangar operators that failed to settle their debt with the Miaa are: Air Ads, P119 million; Phil Cox, some P500 million; Republic, P100 million; and former Congressman Prospero Pichay, P3 million.
The “delinquent” hangar owners had already received several notices and demand letters from the Miaa.
Monreal said Pichay has sent word that he will settle his obligation soon.
Earlier, Monreal said all hangar owners/operators and their personnel will be barred from entering the airport complex for nonpayment of their obligation to the government.
“The Miaa is not driving them from their hangar, but we will not issue access pass to their personnel if they insist on not paying their rentals,” Monreal stressed.
The move to collect delinquent payments started at the House of Representative when Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez advised the Miaa not to issue identification cards to employees of hangar companies that are delinquent in the payment of their rental fees
Alvarez recently presided over a meeting of the Committee on Transportation on Airport Concerns. The panel is discussing ways for the Department of Transportation and the Miaa to rationalize the Naia operation to ensure the safety and comfort of the flying public.
It was during this discussion that Alvarez asked whether hangar operators are meeting their obligation, to which Monreal disclosed the uncollected fees now amounting to more than P700 million.