2 NAIA execs dismissed

Two high-ranking officials of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were reportedly sacked last week by Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Alfonso Cusi for allegedly engaging in questionable practices during the renovation of NAIA’s Terminal 3.

Senior assistant general manager Oscar Paras and NAIA-3 assistant general manager Florencio Montalbo were accused of favoring consultants Ove Arup and TCGI Engineering over Japanese contractor Takenaka whenever there is a disagreement between them.

Ove Arup and TCGI were hired two years ago by NAIA to help them study the structural and architectural defects of NAIA-3 and what possible actions were necessary to solve the problem.

Ove Arup and TCGI later found that NAIA-3 would need extensive repairs, aside from the collapsed ceilings, that would run into millions of dollars.

Takenaka objected to the consultants’ findings and reportedly offered to repair some of the damaged portions of NAIA 3 for $50 million, which Paras and Montalbo opposed.

The two reportedly favored TCGI, which offered $137 million to repair the damaged portions of the terminal.

Cusi was told that Takenaka’s offer, although a lower amount, is the right price for the project. He was reportedly angered by the reported connivance that went on behind his back at a time when Malacañang was rushing him to open NAIA-3 as soon as possible.

The STAR tried to contact Paras and Montalbo but failed. Sources said Paras is out of town while Montalbo is out of the country.     – Rudy Santos