PIATCO vice president Moises Tolentino Jr. issued the challenge in response to a proposal aired earlier by Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II that government operate the terminal pending resolution of the case before the Supreme Court.
Several cases were filed with the Supreme Court questioning the validity of the PIATCO concession agreement that allowed it to build and operate the new terminal and turn it over to government after 25 years for P1.
During the pendency of the Supreme Court cases, however, President Arroyo declared the concession agreement, including its amendments and supplements, null and void.
We can make the terminal operational again within 60 days, as soon as the government notifies us and all the airlines and government agencies concerned," Tolentino said.
He said, PIATCO has hired and trained hundreds of technical people with the necessary skills to operate and maintain the terminal facility under the supervision of PIATCO and its technical consultants.
At the same time, Tolentino dismissed reports that German investor Fraport AG does not see eye to eye with their Filipino partners.
"Once the terminal becomes operational, Fraport will definitely be a significant part of the team as it remains an important shareholder in PIATCO. Only last week, Fraport reaffirmed its continuing commitment to send the personnel and technical experts to help operate NAIA IPT 3.
Fraport, a German corporation owned 60 percent by the federal state government of Hesse, is now preparing to file a suit for arbitration against the Philippine government under the RP-Germany investment treaty, Tolentino said.
Tolentino said the German investors want to go to the World Bank, for settlement "because that is the mode of settlement specified under the 1965 Convention on Disputes Settlement which was ratified by both the Philippines and Germany. He clarified, however, that this matter is directly between Fraport AG as a foreign investor and the Philippines. PIATCO is not a party and is not involved."