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The
leaders of a powerful House Committee, along with a team
from low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, visited the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (Naia 3)
Wednesday to give assurance that Congress supports the
opening of the $600-million terminal.
“We
should open this terminal as soon as possible. I have
seen many airports all over the world that are much
worse than this,” according to Rep. Roque Ablan, House
Committee on Transportation vice chairman.
The
legislator, who refused to name any of the airports
besides saying that they are known to persons who travel
extensively, said there are airports which can service
millions of passengers without mishap.
He said
that if the government does not make Naia 3 operational,
there would be no way of knowing which of its various
parts are defective.
“The
Japanese contractors have said that this building is
safe and only the one upstairs [pointing to the heavens]
could give the actual guarantee,” he said, adding that
the building had stood idle for so many years without
generating any income.
Cebu
Pacific executives, led by Candice Iyog, vice president
for marketing, said they were invited to look and assess
whether the airport is ready for operations. She was
accompanied by representatives from the airline’s flight
operations, pilots and safety, airport and connectivity
experts.
“We are
here to find out if the terminal is ready,” Iyog said.
She said
they were asked to determine if the terminal is ready to
accommodate the airlines initially invited to operate at
Naia 3.
She
added that Cebu Pacific would act favorably if its
international and domestic operations could be combined
under one roof at Naia 3.
Airport
General Manager Alfonso Cusi took the group on a tour of
the different sections and facilities of Naia 3,
explaining the ongoing remedial works, saying that there
would be partial opening for selective domestic and
international flights.
Rep.
Monico Puentebella, chairman of the House Committee on
Transportation, said they would abide by whatever
decision is made by the Naia authorities and the
Transportation and Communications department. |
