Government plans to open bigger portion of NAIA-3 to handle more passengers

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said yesterday the government is planning to open a bigger part of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to accommodate more passengers.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, however, said that all the issues involving the NAIA 3 would be resolved. “What we all know the just compensation is still pending in court. However, (Transportation and Communications) Secretary (Jose) de Jesus has already announced that the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) is targeting the opening of NAIA 3 by this year. I believe there are also some structural concerns and everything is being done. I don’t think it will be fully operational but a bigger part of it will be open for operations,” Valte said.

The Pasay City regional trial court has yet to rule on expropriation proceedings involving NAIA 3.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said earlier the government’s possession of the NAIA 3 would not be affected by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes’ decision allowing German firm, Fraport AG to initiate new proceedings against the Philippines for just compensation.

Ochoa said just compensation for the builders of the NAIA 3 should be finalized under the Aquino administration once and for all.

Ochoa explained the expropriation case pending before the Pasay RTC remained to be an obstacle to NAIA 3’s full operation.

The ICSID’s Dec. 23 decision may pose another legal problem as this was a reversal of its Aug. 2007 ruling dismissing Fraport’s case against the Philippines.

The International Criminal Court in Singapore had also ruled in favor of the Philippine government in the arbitration case against the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. or PIATCO.