It’s safe to say that Ninoy Aquino International Airport isn’t something that Filipinos are proud to show off to the world. It has had its share of faux pas such as the laglag-bala (bullet-planting) scandal and its unreliable air-conditioners. With construction of the larger New Manila International Airport underway, one might think that NAIA’s days are well and truly numbered.

But San Miguel Corporation thinks that there is still life left in the much-hated international gateway. Together with partners like Incheon International Airport Corporation, it has formed New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC). This joint venture took over management of the airport last September 14.

For the first three to six months, NNIC has modest goals that include reliable air-conditioning, serviceable toilets and escalators, and more efficient passenger and baggage handling. Bigger ones like enhanced commercial spaces and traffic flow, increased terminal capacity, and runway improvements will supposedly come in three years.

But the loftiest targets in the NNIC’s 25-year concession period are better flood control in the areas surrounding NAIA, linking the airport directly to the Metro Manila Subway, and the construction of an additional terminal with an annual capacity of 35 million passengers.

NNIC plans to invest P170 billion to transform its highly ambitious plan into reality. But even with that amount being spent, it’s the users ranging from passengers to pilots and airport workers that will be delivering the verdict in due time. We simply hope that it’s a favorable one.