Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Launch of the New Facilities of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 and the 2025 Presidential Pamaskong Salubong Para sa mga Bagong Bayani ng Bansa

Maraming-maraming sa ating DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez.

[Sit down.]

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco; the Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

I’m a little surprise that I can see you here dahil ang balita ko lang sayo, lagi kang lumilipad kung saan-saan para iuwi ‘yung ating mga – ‘yung ating mga nalagay sa peligro na mga OFW, so welcome home.

Pasay City Lone District Representative Antonino Calixto; Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano; the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation President Ramon Ang and other NNIC officials present, big word of congratulations. [applause]

I have to [applause] – Ang comment – ang commentary namin ni First Lady habang naglalakad kami all the way through the different parts of the airport, ang sabi ko – sabi ko kanya, it looks like a real airport, finally. Because it looks like the airports that we go through when we travel in other places and to finally see the airport at this – at least functioning like a modern airport. The importance is the multiplier effect of this efficiency is quite massive.

So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all your hardwork. [applause]

Of course, to First Lady, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos; my fellow workers in government; the partners and private sector and stakeholders for all that we are doing; ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Over a year ago, the New NAIA Infra Corp., or NNIC, took on the responsibility of rehabilitating and managing our primary gateway. The goal was clear: transform the Manila International Airport into an airport that works always with the passengers in mind.

Holding the same conviction, we joined hands with the NNIC to ensure that the progress will be felt by the people who use systems – these systems every day. So, in doing so, we reaffirmed 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?

In collaboration with the NNIC, we eased congestion on the ground and in the air. We have strengthened airside operations. We have improved seating, cooling systems, restroom… Oh, cooling system, malamig na. Lahat ng mapuntahan mo sa ano, sa airport eh kumportable ka. Mayroon na tayong restroom, mga Wi-Fi. We have restored old equipment, enhanced baggage handling, introduced new mobility options.

Hindi lamang ito usapin tungkol sa imprastraktura. Ito ay usapin ng malasakit—ang pag-unawa sa pagod, pangamba, at pananabik ng bawat Pilipino at bisitang dumadating dito sa ating bansa.

Because through this partnership, the airport has achieved a single-day high 92 percent on-time performance [applause], even at the same time passenger volumes, routes, and airline partners continued to grow. This accomplishment reminds us that when systems are fixed and institutions cooperate, efficiency follows—and so does public trust.

More importantly, the Manila International Airport has received its very first-ever customer experience accreditation from the Airports Council International. [applause]

So, hindi lang – hindi lang sabi-sabi na atin-atin lang na sinasabi natin ang ganda ng – ang ganda na ang airport eh kahit na ‘yung mga nag-aaral tungkol sa kondisyon ng mga iba’t ibang airport ay sinabi na maganda na nga ang airport dito sa Maynila.

It only shows that the Philippines can meet global standards while remaining grounded in genuine Filipino service.

Today’s launch of the new immigration e-gates builds on that progress.

Passengers can now clear in as little as 20 seconds. Not 20 minutes, 20 seconds –- with further improvements expected as the system continues to learn and begins to stabilize.

Ito ay patunay na iginagalang natin ang oras ng bawat biyahero at pinahahalagahan ang kanilang dignidad—sapagkat ang maayos na serbisyo ay karapatan naman ng bawat Pilipino.

Beyond immigration, we are also launching the
All-Filipino Food Hall, Mezzanine Food Hall, which offers travelers better spaces to rest, to dine, and to reconnect.

All-Filipino Food Hall features 15 homegrown brands, while the Mezzanine Food Hall offers 17 stand-alone restaurants and cafés. These halls allow travelers to experience the flavors [of] home—or discover them for the first time—even within the walls of the airport.

We are likewise opening the new Dignitaries Lounge, which reflects the best of what we are as Filipinos: warm, respectful, and welcoming.

With the launch of the Medical Tourism Concierge Area, we take another important step towards people-centered service. It is designed to receive and assist patients with both efficiency and with compassion, ensuring a smooth and dignified experience from arrival onward.

The area includes a well-designed reception counter for medical partners, as well as an enclosed consultation bed that ensures the privacy and confidentiality of our travelers and patients.

Building on this momentum, the Department of Tourism introduces the Transit Tour—an initiative created for international passengers with long layovers.

Instead of spending hours confined to the terminal, travelers now are given the chance to enjoy a thoughtfully curated glimpse of the Philippines including its culture, heritage, and people or what we call experiential tourism.

Layunin po nating iparamdam ang diwa at ganda ng Pilipinas kahit sa maikling panahon lamang.

The program is open to all transiting passengers of Philippine Airlines, those connecting through other carriers, and landed travelers with onward domestic flights.

All these improvements will benefit all travelers, including families with children and the elderly and of course, these changes were designed with our OFWs in mind.

Ang ating mga OFW, ang ating mga bagong bayani, ang patuloy na nagdadala ng dangal sa ating bansa.

Kanina po ay nakita ko si Rhodora Alcaraz Tuñacao.

Isa siya sa mga biktima ng Taipo fire. Nakita niyo ba ‘yung napakalaking sunog na nangyari sa – nangyari sa HongKong? Sa kabila ng panganib na kanyang hinarap ay pinili niyang iligtas ang sanggol na kanyang inaalagaan. Pinapakita nito ang likas na malasakit ng Pilipino sa kanyang kapwa.

Katulad ni Rhodora, ang bawat OFW natin ay nagsisikap na mabigyan ng mas magandang kinabukasan ang kanilang pamilya sa kabila ng pangungulila at panganib.

Kaya naman ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat upang maging mas malapit, mabilis, at maaasahan ang ating mga serbisyo para sa ating mga OFW.

Nais ko rin ibalita na sinisimulan na ng BOC ang proseso upang maipamahagi ang isang daan at tatlumpung abandonadong container van na balikbayan boxes sa mga nagmamay-ari nito.

Ang nangyari po rito ay nagpadala po ang ating OFW ng balikbayan box, inuwi dito sa Pilipinas, ‘yun naman – ‘yung mga nagdala, hindi naman binayaran ang mga – ang mga dapat bayaran dito sa Pilipinas. Kaya eh nandoon, nakatiwangwang lang ‘yung mga balikbayan box for almost – ‘yung iba magwa-one year na, nandoon lang sa Bureau of Customs, ngayon sinimulan na natin ang pagbibigay at ipagbabalik. Dahil hindi naman pagmamay-ari ng pamahalaan ‘yan. Pagmamay-ari ‘yan ng ating mga OFW.

Kaya’t starting today, ire-release na natin.

Gaano kadami ba ‘yon? There was about – I’m sorry? One? One hundred – more or less [130] balikbayan boxes na nakatengga lang diyan, nag-aantay, hindi alam ang gagawin. Now, we will send them back to their owners. [applause]

Pipilitin natin – ‘yung mga iba rito, pinadala para pang Christmas gift noong nakaraang taon, kaya’t sa wakas eh pipilitin natin matanggap naman nila ito bago dumating naman ang Pasko.

Mga kababayan, sinasalamin ng mga repormang ito ang kaya nating gawin kung patuloy na magtutulungan ang pamahalaan, ang pribadong sektor at sa – para sa pagpapabuti ng ating serbisyo para sa mga Pilipino.

May these efforts inspire deeper collaboration among stakeholder, stronger institutions across all sectors, and developments that place people at the center of governance.

Maraming salamat, at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!

[applause]

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