Gordon backs new airport terminal’s opening next month

Despite mounting pressure on the government to scrap the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) contract, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon is batting for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3’s launching next month.

Upon his arrival yesterday from his trip to several countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Gordon said he has convinced his counterparts in these nations that the Philippines is prepared for any contingency and can provide security to all foreign visitors who come to the country for business or pleasure.

"I hope the new airport will be opened on schedule so that it will be ready by the time (the) Visit Philippines 2003 (tourism campaign) is in full swing," Gordon said.

The tourism chief’s optimism of increased tourist arrivals in the Philippines in the near future is anchored on the signing of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement in Cambodia.

The new tourism pact outlines the joint marketing and promotion of travel into and within ASEAN by supporting the "Visit ASEAN" campaign which calls for member countries to put together interest-specific tour packages and attractions that will draw more tourists.

Gordon added that the Davao City international airport, which was recently rehabilitated, will soon be open and is girding for increased tourist arrivals.

He added that the Laoag airport needs renovation so it can accommodate bigger aircraft for tourists wanting to see the sights of Northern Luzon, particularly the Banawe Rice Terraces.

Meanwhile, the number of groups opposed to the opening of Terminal 3 yesterday found another ally as a fourth group filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Court yesterday seeking to stop the scheduled opening of the airport facility.

The Samahang Manggagawa sa Paliparan ng Pilipinas — the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) workers’ union — said through its counsel, Erwin Erfe, that the government’s contract with the Piatco consortium should be scrapped.

Erfe said the Piatco deal violated four provisions of the Constitution: it jeopardizes NAIA workers’ security of tenure, gives the government assurance there will be no strikes, provides exoneration for Piatco from any liability once workers are laid off, and ensures the transfer of power over the new air terminal from MIAA to Piatco.

Similar lawsuits were filed by lawyer Steve Salonga for over 20 NAIA labor unions, former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Perfecto Yasay for the MIAA Association of Service Operators and the lawsuit filed by three congressmen.

"I think we have probably the broadest coalition against Piatco," Salonga said. "Even the private business sector has joined us ... and there are three significant findings that say the contract is onerous and immoral."

NAIA labor union leaders and members said at least 12,000 airport workers stand to lose their jobs come Dec. 15 because Piatco was given the "sole authority to hire and fire workers" in the new air terminal.

Reps. Salacnib Baterina (Ilocos Sur), Clavel Martinez (Cebu City) and Constantino Jaraula (Cagayan de Oro) earlier said that allowing the Piatco deal to push through will mean more losses for the already cash-strapped government.

Baterina said the government is already suffering from a budget deficit of a little over P60 billion. Allowing Piatco to operate the NAIA Terminal 3, he added, would compel the government to spend P3 billion more than it should.

Yasay, for his part, said the government has "not acted at all" to stop the onerous contract from being implemented, even as the new facility is nearing completion.

"That’s why we are constrained," Yasay said in a news conference. "This is the only course of action that is left for us... If we give Piatco a little more time, then it will be too late for the government to back out (from this deal)."

Salonga said there is no assurance from government regarding the future of the workers who will be displaced when the new facility begins operations on Dec. 15 and added that there is even "doubt on the compensation for their job loss."

The MIAA unions and workers, known as the "Scrap the Piatco Deal Coalition," said they believe they have raised "valid grounds" in their petition and listed "at least 13 flawed provisions" in the contract. They labeled these provisions "unconstitutional."

"The entire (DOTC)-Piatco contract is illegal, onerous and grossly disadvantageous to the government, the Filipino people and the aviation workers. Terminal 3 will wipe out the entire airline industry and Piatco will have the monopoly," the coalition said.