By Isabella Magno

A lawmaker filed a bill to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport on June 30, but a copy was not made public until Tuesday, July 5. 

Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. introduced House Bill No. 610 because he believed it is “more appropriate” to base NAIA’s name on the “the person who has contributed to the idea and execution of the said noble project”.

“[This is] to make the Philippines a center of international and domestic air travel,” Teves added. 

It is not the first time solons surfaced the idea of renaming NAIA. In June 2020, former deputy speaker Paolo Duterte and other legislators proposed to change the name of NAIA to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas (Philippine International Airport).

They asserted changing the name would make the airport “immediately identifiable” as a Philippine-based facility.

Media outlet fact-checks solon’s claim

Digital media outlet Rappler fact-checked a claim saying NAIA was created under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 

Facts showed that the construction of what was then called Manila International Airport began during the time of former President Manuel Roxas in 1947, while the airport’s first international airway and taxiway finished construction in 1953 under the term of former President Elpidio Quirino. 

Only 12 years after the airport became fully operational was when Marcos Sr. assumed office in 1965. 

The airport was renamed NAIA in 1987 under Republic Act No. 6639 to honor Former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who was assassinated at the airport during the presidency of Marcos Sr. in 1983. 

Thumbnail from GMA News