Monday, Jun 23, 2008
Gulf News
Manila: President Gloria Arroyo is set to finally remove the veil off Manila's third airport terminal when she arrives in the country after a trip to the United States on June 30, an official announced.
Michael Defensor, head of the newly created presidential task force exercising administrative supervision over the yet to be inaugurated Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia 3), said the President had ordered the opening of the terminal in time for her return to the country after her US trip.
Arroyo had left the country Saturday to meet with US President George W. Bush and drum up investments to the Philippines among other matters.
Defensor said: "Overcoming all legal barriers, the President ordered the airport's use upon her arrival on the 30th of June from the US."
Constructed during the presidency of Joseph Estrada, Naia 3 has been mired in numerous controversies and initially been derided as an unnecessary waste of government money.
Transport requirements
Aside from this, existing facilities at the original Naia 1 terminal is already antiquated and not up to par with international aviation standards.
Defensor said domestic flights will use the yet to open terminal and then later on it will be receiving international flights.
Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications confirmed the scheduled opening of the new facility earlier last week after he successfully led the airport terminal's dry run.
"Based on the report of our technical working committee there is some equipment to be finished especially the air conditioning system but this is only minor," Mendoza said.
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
