Piatco concessionaires appeal to gov’t to honor agreement

A group of local businessmen and entrepreneurs who entered into a concession agreement with the Philippine International Airport Terminal Co. (Piatco) in the still to be opened Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are appealing to the government to honor their contract and speed up the opening of the new airport.

The group has decided to call themselves the Philippine Airport Services Concessionaires or PASCO.

Feliberto Verano Jr., spokesman and legal counsel for PASCO, expressed the group’s disgust over the bickering and squabbling between Piatco, MASO, Fraport, politicians and certain government officials.

"This issue has dragged on for too long. This is exactly the reason why our country cannot move forward. Too much politics gets in the way of business," Verano said.

The NAIA Terminal 3 design incorporates the "mall within an airport" concept which allows well-wishers to shop and dine inside the airport while waiting for their balikbayan relatives and friends.

Some 115 establishments are supposed to operate within the NAIA Terminal 3.

The group disclosed that they have been operating at a loss since last year because of the delay in the opening of the new airport.

Ramon Eugenio, owner of Connection Cafe, said that all concessionaires rushed to hire and train personnel, purchase equipment and furniture, and finalize their respective architectural and interior plans in order to comply with the deadline set by Piatco and the government for the supposed NAIA Terminal 3 soft opening in November last year..