Nayong Pilipino clearing to push through

Clearing of the Nayong Pilipino park will push through this week despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) granted by a Pasay City Regional Trial Court judge against the eviction of the park’s concessionaires, said Edgardo Manda, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager.

"Tuloy ang clearing. As it is, we have been delayed by several months already," Manda said in a telephone interview. "With the signing of the Executive Order (by President Arroyo), I don’t think there are any impediments to the project." MIAA and Philippine International Air Terminals Corp., Inc. (PIATCO) will undertake the demolition of structures in the park to give way to the dual taxiway and a surface access road linking the new Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Terminal 2. Some 80 percent of the park, created in 1972 and which showcased miniature versions of the country’s landmarks, will be obliterated.

Manda admitted that he was already "exasperated" by the continued protests and issues raised against the NAIA Terminal 3 project, scheduled to open in December. "This is going to be our premier airport where our economic activity will revolve. We have to be united at least in this. For them to look after their own selfish interests over the national interest is just disappointing," he bewailed.

"Napakalaki ng complications if this project would be further delayed," Manda said.The government will have to pay a huge fine to PIATCO, the project’s private concessionaire, if it fails to meet its obligations and cause delays in the project as stated in the contract.

The Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc. (NPFI) has transferred possesion of 8.6 hectares of the park’s total 46 hectares to the MIAA for the taxiway. However, park employees and concessionaires continue to oppose the agreement and last week, RTC Branch 117 Judge Henrick Gingoyon granted the concessionaires’ petition for a TRO against their eviction. NPFI Executive Director Charito Planas was also held in contempt of court and ordered arrested by Gingoyon for closing the 31-year-old park last Thursday despite the TRO. "What the TRO means is eviction by closure," lawyer Oliver Lozano, who represents the concessionaires, had explained. The TRO is valid until July 11. – Nikko Dizon