NAIA Terminal 3 road project to push through

The Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Tourism (DOT) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) today announced that they are now set to proceed with the widening of Manlunas Road in Pasay City.

The announcement came after these agencies implemented the swift and massive clearing of about 50 illegal commercial establishments squatting on a prime 1,500 square-meter area of Villamor Air Base after the "rich" squatters refused to remove the structures themselves.

The area, part of the facility’s Menzi Park, was cleared for a vital road widening and improvement project in preparation for the soft opening of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. The project is being implemented along Manlunas Road, which provide vehicular access to the terminal from both the South Luzon Tollway and Andrews Avenue.

Earlier, the city government of Pasay decried the long delays suffered by the project due to the presence of some 50 illegally-built commercial establishments. The illegal occupants had also been earlier reported to be demanding "exorbitant compensation" from the government for their structures.

The city government said the squatting business establishments posed obstruction to and seriously delaying the completion of the access road to the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA III).

President Arroyo has directed government agencies to ensure the smooth soft opening of the new airport terminal in December this year.

The city government had warned that unless the widening is completed, Manlunas Road could become a major choke point once NAIA is opened.

The city government had earlier said that almost half of the illegal occupants were permitted to build their businesses in the area by former barangay officials provided they dismantle the structures once government requires use of the area. Some of the businesses in the area "merely sprouted without any permission from any government agency."

The city government had vowed to investigate the incident even as an order to thoroughly probe the alleged presence of powerful syndicates backing well-off squatters was made.