NNIC remits P78 B to government

(Conclusion)

As of July 31 this year, the New NAIA International Corp. or NNIC has already remitted P78 billion to the national government, updating the P70 billion I had earlier written in the first part of my article on the improvements that the SMC Infrastructure-led consortium has so far made in Terminal 3 of the airport.

Passengers who have used Terminal 3 in particular will have noticed the significant improvement and the new facilities that have been constructed and are now available to travelers, greatly enhancing the previously criticized conditions of the airport  terminal,  with its sub-par air-conditioning and crowded arrival and departure hall, as well as  underutilized spaces in the third and fourth floor.

The air-conditioning problem has been addressed, while the upgrade of the departure hall will require careful timing so as not to disrupt flight operations. NNIC intends to install more connecting tubes as part of its overall goal to improve boarding and disembarkation time.

The biggest and most welcomed change, however, has benefitted overseas Filipino workers on whose remittances the country has been able to rely on to prop up our economy.

Knowing this full well, NNIC president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang spearheaded the construction of a dedicated departure lounge for OFWs and their families on the second floor of the departure hall of T3, with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) providing funding of around P10 million for  the food and beverage provided in the lounge for departing Filipino workers.

It was clear during our visit that the OFWs were very appreciative of the lounge space and availability of free wi-fi for their use. There was a dignified aura among the travelers, no longer looking like refugees about to leave for better pastures. Adjacent to the OFW Lounge is a dedicated OFW baggage counter where they can leave their baggage while enjoying the use of the facility for a maximum of six hours.

With a maximum capacity of just 200 people at the T3 lounge, a time limit of six hours is given so that other traveling OFWs can also enjoy the space. Another OFW Lounge has also been provided at Terminal 1, but with a slightly lower capacity for just 150 people.

OWWA staff admitted that some OFWs take offense when they are turned away or not allowed to use the lounge when it has reached full capacity. Likewise, some complain when they are asked to leave if they exceed the six-hour use limit because their flight has been delayed or rescheduled.

As OFWs are not allowed to sleep in the lounge, Mr. Ang has thoughtfully provided an additional, but very limited space, for special instances when OFWs need to rest, sleep and perhaps take a much-needed bath. The rest space provided by Mr. Ang has been supplied with double deck bunk beds — 14 for male users and 12 for female users. Users will be provided a bath towel and a small toiletry kit.

Unfortunately, the mini dormitory is still not available for use as the OWWA still has to allocate additional funding for operation of  the sleeping facility. Likewise, NNIC still has to fix the air-conditioning for the mini-dorm.

I’m pretty sure though that once the sleeping/rest room becomes operational, there will be a very long line of OFWs waiting to avail themselves of the “luxury” of catching even a likewise limited couple of hours to lie flat and take a shower.

Aside from the OFW Lounge, the departure lounge also has a separate Dignitaries Lounge for government officials who oftentimes request special departure assistance from the airport operator.

There is also another special lounge on the ground floor of the arrival hall of T3, called the CIP lounge — which is for “Commercially Important Passengers” that paying companies can reserve when hosting important business clients or officials who may need conference room facilities. The CIP Lounge has three separate conference rooms available.

The third floor of the T3, which used to be an empty and unutilized space has also been transformed with brand name cafes and restaurants that departing passengers and perhaps their families can use for a last farewell meal before a family member leaves for a job opportunity abroad, a vacation or for education.

One highlight of the T3 upgrade is the transformation of the airline lounges on the fourth floor of the departure hall—with its airside view of the runway—into the truly world-class First Meridian Lounge, which now serves as the premium lounge for Business and First Class passengers of airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Emirates, JAL, KLM, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines.

For now, access to the premium lounge is by elevator only as the NNIC is still installing escalators for easy access to the fourth floor lounge.

The First Meridian Lounge is a first for NAIA, offering a truly spacious area that includes its own bakeshop right beside the entrance, enclosed dining rooms for families or groups upon request, a wine bar, a spacious teppanyaki room, two separate buffet areas, an expansive lounge area and even a sleeping area for some guests who may want to stretch out for a bit. It even offers a perk for globe-trotting golfers with its golf simulation room, allowing guests to practice their golf swing while waiting for their flight.

In the past, only a couple of airlines, such as Cathay and Singapore Airlines, had their own lounges for their business- and first-class passengers. Other airlines had to rely on shared paid lounges, which unfortunately were quite cramped and could get overcrowded.