“We are glad to report now that we are moving forward to the completion and full operationalization of Naia 3,” outgoing Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said.
The May target coincides with the yearly Asian Development Bank (ADB) meeting, he said.
“Miaa [Manila International Airport Authority] is now in direct discussion with the contractor and our independent consultants on how to move it. Barring any unforseen circumstances, you should see some major activity in Naia 3 within the next few days or in the next few months. And hopefully, we should be able to open it just in time for the annual meeting of the ADB in May of 2012. Not as a manual or individual system but as a modern integrated system comparable with the best in the world,” said Reinoso.
The new terminal is already being utilized by Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and All Nippon Airways, but the structure still needs to be completed. There is an ongoing discussion to rehire Takenaka Corp. to complete the unfinished portion of the new terminal.
Some of the defective civil works at the Naia Terminal 3 were done by small contractors hired by Takenaka. The DOTC had already put on hold some of the contracts inked with the subcontractors that were hired by the Japanese firm.
Takenaka is the Japanese contractor hired by the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) to build the new facility.
To date, no agreement has been signed yet by the government with Takenaka that would signal the start of the construction to complete unfinished work at Naia 3. Only a memorandum of understanding has been signed.
Last month the DOTC said it was set to implement a package of operational reforms meant to enable the Naia to cope with new challenges posed by increased aviation activities in the country’s premier airport.
The changes, designed to address decongestion problems at the Naia resulting from increased outgoing and incoming flights, include the relocation of some industry players, starting with aviation schools deploying small and slow trainer aircraft that “technically affect the movement efficiency of other aircraft” using the Naia runways.
Outgoing Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus said the aviation operators affected by the relocation program have six months to submit their respective transfer plans drawn on the basis of their own needs and requirements.
De Jesus pointed out that the adjustments were also aimed at allaying concerns raised by certain quarters over perceived safety issues affecting airlines operating at the Naia. “During the last five years, the Philippine domestic carriers have significantly increased both their domestic and international operations. This growth contributed to the congestion issues arising from the utilization of only one runway for all flight movements,” he said.
To streamline aircraft movements, stricter guidelines will be enforced governing use of the runway for outgoing and incoming flights on the basis of availability of terminal capacities, runway use ability, and take-off or landing sequence.
To help decongest the Naia, the airlines were also encouraged to tap alternate international airports such as the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga as their key base of operations.
“For the long term, the airline industry has been advised that since the Naia capacity to take in flights is approaching the upper limits and may increase operational safety concerns, airlines should look at the option of using other established international gateways in Luzon like the DMIA,” De Jesus said.
He also disclosed that the DOTC is setting up a modern communication and air traffic management system known as CNS-ATM “that will put the Philippines at par with other countries worldwide as far as air traffic control is concerned.”
De Jesus said installation of the CNS-ATM is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.
(Lenie Lectura)
