By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“We reaffirm our commitment to positioning the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse here in Asia. And what better place to improve the travel experience of the passengers than the very facility that welcomes them after hours of journey.”
Cognizant of the country’s potential for further growth in the tourism and transportation sectors, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos led the launch of various new facilities at NAIA Terminal 3 Tuesday.
In his remarks at the event, the President expressed gratitude to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) and various stakeholders for making the rehabilitation of this aviation hub possible.
President Marcos Jr. shared, “Because through this partnership, the airport has achieved a single-day high 92% on-time performance, even at the same time, passenger volumes, routes, and airline partners continue to grow.”
He added further, “More importantly, the MIA has received its very first, ever, customer experience accreditation from the Airports Council International.”
Better travel experiences for domestic and international travelers
The First Couple explored the various additions at Manila’s gateway to the world, which they hailed as on par with air travel hubs in other countries.
NAIA Terminal 3 now features improved cooling systems, seats for passengers, air-side operations, restrooms, new mobility options, enhanced baggage handling, and better Wi-Fi connectivity, among others.
This newly-upgraded terminal consists of the Dignitaries Lounge on the 3rd level, Mezzanine Hall on the 2nd level, and the Arrival Immigration E-Gates on the ground floor.
The latter served among the highlights of the walkthrough, with the deployment of 78 biometric e-gates enabling passengers to complete immigration clearance in as fast as 20 seconds.
The First Couple went on to greet returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during the 2025 Presidential Pamaskong Salubong, honoring the migrant workers’ sacrifices and indispensable contributions to the nation.
After bonding with OFWs, they went on to introduce the Transit Tour, an experiential tourism initiative by the Department of Tourism (DOT) that provides an opportunity for international passengers with long lay-overs to have a glimpse of what the Philippines has to offer.
This was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Tourist Medical Concierge Pavilion, a facility geared towards looking after the health and welfare of passengers.
The walkthrough culminated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Tambayan/All-Filipino Food Hall and the Mezzanine Food Hall, featuring 17 homegrown brands and 22 dining options, respectively.
The Chief Executive hailed the launch of these facilities as a notable feat in improving public services and facilities that respond to the ebb and flow of air freight and passenger traffic in the Philippines’ primary air transport hub.
“This accomplishment reminds us that when systems are fixed and institutions cooperate, efficiency follows. And so does public trust.”
In time for the Yuletide season
At the same event, Marcos Jr. ordered the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to expedite the release of approximately 130,000 of balikbayan boxes to the families of OFWs who have sent these packages from abroad.
These boxes were left idling at the BOC’s warehouse due to various reasons, with some of them still not reaching their intended recipients for almost a year already.
This move underscores the President’s mandate to ensure that families of OFWs can savor the spirit of Christmas with these gifts born out of love, sacrifices, and hard work.
The inauguration of these new facilities is bound to cater to the needs of over 2.5 million passengers expected to pass through the immigration gates during the holiday season, between December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
President Marcos Jr. declared, “It only shows that the Philippines can meet global standards while remaining grounded in genuine Filipino service.”
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