2 airport officials in word war over access road

Two airport officials are locked in a verbal tussle over who should be blamed for the failure to complete the construction of an access road to link Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA 1) with Terminal 3 (NAIA 3).

Without the access road, the new, ultramodern NAIA 3, which the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco) is set to operate under a contract with the government, could not be opened because of concerns over the security of passengers and cargo.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Edgardo Manda said Piatco should be blamed for the delay in the construction of the access road.

"Don’t blame me for your messy contract," he said.

On the other hand, NAIA 3 general manager Guillermo Cunanan said Manda is at fault because MIAA failed to secure the locational clearance before the Pasay City engineer’s office could issue a construction permit.

"We had not been remiss in reminding the MIAA about this as well as other requirements during our weekly coordination meetings, but to no avail," he said.

Piatco had been ready to build the access road since last September, he added.

Meanwhile, Manda said Piatco has not yet completed construction of NAIA 3.

In a letter last Monday to Vic Cheng Yong, Piatco president, Manda said the new airport facility is not complete and "definitely far from ready" for commercial operations, contrary to what the company has been claiming.

"A considerable number of systems completion tests have either failed or have been inadequate requiring re-tests to be undertaken," read the letter.

"Even the QAI design deviation report dated Dec. 3, 2002 shows that there are still a number of construction issues unresolved that clearly indicate that the building is far from complete.

"To top it all, the suspension of works and tests on systems completion by your EPC contractor last Dec. 3, 2002 apparently in fulfillment of its earlier threat to suspend works due to non-payment on your part, is proof by itself that it will take a considerable length of time before the T3 facility can be completed and ready for operation."

Manda said he wrote the letter to set the record straight as to the real status of NAIA 3.