CONSTRUCTION of a fifth terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is expected to start in 2016, the Transportation department said, with plans for a third runway now on hold on the advice of consultants studying the project.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya told reporters in an interview in Mandaluyong City on Dec. 22 that the department hopes to start construction of a new terminal “in 2016” after “consultants advised to shift our attention away from the building of a third runway.”
Although there is still no final location set for the new terminal, Mr. Abaya said: “It will be within the NAIA property,” and accessible from South Luzon Expressway and C-5 Road.
In September, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced that President Benigno S. C. Aquino III had ordered the construction of the third runway at NAIA, at the time estimated to cost about P2.4 billion.
The plan for the proposed 2,100-meter runway was to augment the two Manila runways servicing domestic and international flights and allow airlines to expand operations to meet growing demand. The runway was to have involved the relocation of about 142 families in Parañaque City, Mr. Abaya had said earlier.
“Offhand, the consultants we hired were saying, there are (better) prospects for a new terminal than a third runway,” Mr. Abaya told reporters.
“They really doubt (whether an additional runway) could add to (aircraft) movements... The consultants said the main thing to do is preserve your main runway, maximize your main runway, try to eliminate all forms of obstructions or delays on it, keep planes off it most of the time. Given that as your main objective in runway optimization, planes crossing that is definitely not a welcome operation,” he explained.
Mr. Abaya was referring to possibility of the third runway crossing the current primary runway, known as 06/24, which is used by aircraft approaching over Manila Bay or Rizal.
For the construction of the new terminal, Mr. Abaya said, that there will be “no need to expropriate land.”
“It will require less land so we don’t eat into private subdivisions, what would be affected are informal settlers within MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) property. We don’t affect C-5. Once the consultant shows the numbers, we’ll go up to the President and present it,” he added.
Asked about the new terminal’s estimated capacity, Mr. Abaya replied: “None yet, but we will maximize it, because one of the challenges is that NAIA doesn’t have enough parking space.”
“We’re waiting for the decision on procurement. It will take them a year to study and recommend and execute the plan. We’ll know it before 2015 ends and I hope within 2016, we can start construction,” Mr. Abaya said.
He clarified, however, that the construction of a fifth terminal will not solve congestion at NAIA. “Even if we put this up, there will still be need for terminal space so we will create more space in terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4.”
source: Businessworld
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