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READY or
not, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (Naia
3) will service the domestic operations of Philippine
Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines within
this month.
“On the
part of the government, we are ready to accommodate the
passengers. Now, the airlines have started setting up
their ticketing offices inside. We are just waiting for
the private sector. It is up to the airlines to hurry
up. But, definitely, the opening won’t be later than
July,” said Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department
of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
Mendoza
said there is no exact date yet when the mothballed
terminal would be opened since airlines have yet to
completely set up their network systems inside. He only
said the new facility is almost complete.
“Whether
[on] July 22 or 23, Naia 3 will be opened this July. It
is really the ticketing booths and other equipment of
the airlines that should be ins-talled inside that are
lacking. As soon as they have completed their transfer
activities we can partially open Naia 3,” he added.
Domestic
operations will start at the airport next month and
international flights will be accommodated in six months
to one year.
Mendoza also
said, during the forum on alternative fuels for public
transport held at the Philippine Trade and Training
Center, that the Arroyo administration will continue to
upgrade the facilities of existing airports all over the
country.
“There
will be a continuing program for the upgrading of the
airports. That will be announced by the President in her
State of the Nation Address,” he said.
Also
during the forum, President Arroyo announced that
families of jeepney drivers and operators can avail
themselves of the P500-million funding that will be
allocated through a so-called novel microfinancing
program.
The
amount is part of the P4 billion excess collections from
the value- added tax on oil. Arroyo said families of
public-transport drivers can avail themselves an amount
to start their own small business amid tough times.
To
cushion the impact of the unabated increase of oil
prices, the President had directed the DOTC last month
to provide assistance to the land-transport sector
through technical assistance and the encouragement of
the use of alternative fuels.
“This
forum is in compliance to the said directive.
Public-utility vehicle engines are being converted to
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fed engines,” said
Mendoza.
A total
of P1.32 billion is being set aside by the DOTC to fund
various projects to support the President’s directive.
A study
on the formulation of master plan for alternative fuel
conversion will cost P15 million. A business plan for
LPG and compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion will
cost P2 million.
Another
P2 million will be allotted for vehicle-technology
verification and testing project.
Other
projects are a P750-million jeepney-engine conversion
program; P300-million CNG supply infrastructure; P250
million for engine conversion program; and P1.5-million
information campaign. |
