DOTC gets P1.89 B for NAIA 3

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management has turned over P1.89 billion to the Department of Transportation and Communications to complete and refurbish the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3 (NAIA 3).

The government earlier forged a $45-million deal with Japanese contractor Takenaka Corp. to undertake the rehabilitation of the 182,500-square meter terminal.  Covered by the memorandum of understanding inked by both parties is the delivery of 23 airport systems, which include baggage handling and reconciliation system, flight information display system, building management system, local area network, fire alarm and protection system and passenger loading bridges.

Upon full completion, the new terminal would have the capacity to service up to 6,000 passengers per hour, or 33,000 passengers daily at a peak. It will also have 34 air bridges and 20 contact gates, allowing it to service 28 airplanes simultaneously.

The NAIA terminal 3, which has been running at half capacity for the past three years, is expected to be fully operation by the end of 2013.

“Once the development of NAIA 3 is completed, some of the operations of NAIA 1 will be transferred to Terminal 3, effectively decongesting Terminal 1 and ensuring operational efficiency in both terminals. This is particularly crucial, given the Administration’s energetic drive for better public infrastructure and other services that support our growing tourism industry,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said.

The project is aimed at ramping up construction of public infrastructure to further boost the country’s tourism industry.

“The Department of Tourism’s successful campaign – along with cheaper airfare and regular airline promos – helped increase the popularity of air travel in the country. Last year alone, the number of tourists rose from 3.9 million in 2011 to 4.2 million in 2012. We’re anticipating a bigger volume of air traffic this year, especially since we’re shooting for 5.5 million foreign tourist arrivals this year,” Abad said.

Takenaka was the original contractor commissioned by Philippine International Air Terminals Co. to build the NAIA 3 in 1998. Construction, however, was grounded to a halt after allegations of anomalies surfaced.

The government also plans to rehabilitate NAIA 1, which was  named the worst airport in Asia by travel website Sleeping in Airport.  Some  P450 million will be spent for the interior renovation while the parking development will cost around P500 million.