|
THE
Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) predicted
Wednesday that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Terminal 3 will finally open before the year ends.
General
manager Alfonso Cusi said they have started to test
equipment and facilities, such as the baggage conveyors,
the air conditioning and ticket counters. But he warned
against expecting full-blown operations. Naia 3
initially would only be used for limited operations
until all the kinks have been ironed out. He did not say
when will that be.
Cusi
made this assurance Wednesday to Rep. Monico Puentebella,
chairman of the House transportation committee, who came
for a look at the multibillion-peso terminal.
Puentebella was accompanied by Transportation Secretary
Leandro Mendoza, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales,
Air Transportation Office executive director Daniel
Dimagiba and other government officials.
Cusi
toured the group starting from the arrival area all the
way to the customs, immigration and quarantine sections
before going down the stairs into the luggage conveyor
system.
The
group saw that masons are feverishly putting finishing
touches on the walls’ cracks, while dozens of workers
are repairing the collapsed ceiling, which gave way in
2005.
Cusi
said the repair of the ceiling was delayed because the
courts have prohibited the Miaa from touching the area
until given the go-ahead by the International Court of
Commerce in
Singapore,
which was hearing a complaint filed by the Naia 3
contractor, Philippine International Air Transportation
Corp.
He said
traffic to the new terminal will be rerouted as part of
the plan to decongest the streets and an overhead route
has also been started, from in front of the Air Force
headquarters.
Puentebella said, “I am very happy that we are finally
opening Naia 3, especially now that tourism arrivals are
on the rise. I’m very happy with the inspection and I am
glad that we will open this very soon.”
He added
that the opening should be on time with the expected
influx of balikbayan and Filipino workers returning for
Christmas and the New Year. |
