NAIA 3 operation seen to create more new jobs

The completion of the P26-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport-International Passenger Terminal 3 (NAIA-IPT3) will generate thousands of employment opportunities for Filipinos, a spokesman of the company that is constructing the airport facility said yesterday.

"Once completed, there will certainly be openings for jobs and opportunities for income," said Moises Tolentino, spokesman of the Philippine International Air Terminals Co., Inc. (PIATCO).

He pointed out that the modern airport terminal complex, which rests on a 200,000 square meter lot in Parañaque will have a four-story mall, restaurants, and various retail outlets.

"By sheer volume of the complex alone, we can see that it will create a large number of job openings," said Tolentino.

He disputed claims that it will displace workers and lead to unemployment. "On the contrary, many Filipinos will benefit in terms of jobs that the NAIA-IPT 3 will generate."

The PIATCO spokesperson also decried the disinformation being spread by some parties out to derail the project that is set to be completed in November, such as the issue of the alleged loss of employment of members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA).

"The construction of the NAIA-IPT 3 has nothing to do with the alleged impending loss of employment of the members of the PALEA. The project will not stop the operation of PAL or its ground handling services. If at all, with the expansion and improvement of the terminal facilities, this may even enhance PAL’s operations and create more jobs," said Tolentino.

The construction of the airport facility at a cost of over P26 billion is being undertaken at no cost to government as the project is a build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) undertaking involving Filipino, German, Singaporean and Japanese companies namely: Flughafen Frankfurt Main AG, People’s Aircargo & Warehousing Co., Inc. Philippine Airport and Ground Services Terminal Inc., Philippine Airport and Ground Services Inc., SB Airport Investments, Inc., and Nissho Iwai Corp.

The new facility will be capable of handling 6,000 passengers both inward and outbound. As a security measure, it will also have fully automatic baggage screening with all bags being checked.

It will also have 140 check in counters to the NAIA terminal 1’s 48 and 118 immigration counters to the present 34, and a 3,200 vehicle capacity carpark.