Cobonpue design gets green light

Plan to make country’s premier airport experience no longer intolerable
Malacañang has announced that the government is adopting the original design submitted by three world-renowned Filipino designers, including Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue, in the P2.8 billion rehabilitation of terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda – quoting Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya — said Cobonpue’s group “will be allowed to do the interior of the NAIA 1 building” for free.
The bidding process for the project will roll out by next month, an Inquirer report said.
Lacierda said that architectural firm Leandro V. Locsin & Associates (LVL) will be in charge of the airport’s architectural services after it was awarded the contract to redesign NAIA-1 two years ago.
“The Cobonpue group will help out with the interiors, but Architect Locsin will still be architect of record. The Cobonpue group has offered their services pro bono,” Lacierda said.
The president’s spokesman added that Locsin’s group will still be doing the conceptual design of the airport’s greeters’ area.
Aside from Cobonpue and the Locsin firm, the Budji+Royal Pineda Design firm will also be involved in the make over to make it on a par with international airports in the region.
National Artist Leandro Locsin designed the original NAIA Terminal 1.
According to a statement posted in Cobonpue’s Facebook account, five “Cabinet secretaries” were in the group that chose to adapt the original design.
Aside from Abaya, those identified to have given the green light on the plan were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado and National Competitiveness Council Co-chairman Guillermo Luz.
“Shelved in 2011, the original plan revolves around a green oasis in the heart of the city surrounded by several road rings flanked by a multi-level parking building and a greeters terminal.
“Secretary Abaya said that the trio would put a ‘Filipino taste and modern feel’ to the planned rehabilitation, with Secretary Jimenez saying that the ‘aha feel’ in the proposed design was what they were looking for,” the statement said.
The rehabilitation project is targeted for completion in time for the hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2015.
The design concept will have more lanes for vehicles, bridgeway connecting to multilevel parking, and more greeters’ areas.
A priority is how to lessen the congestion in the entry and exit points. The human and vehicular traffic is what makes going to the old NAIA 1 insufferable.
The design plan calls for a four-lane driveway for a smoother traffic flow.
Another priority is the greeters’ area—given that in the Filipino culture, the departure and arrival of loved ones become a community or a barangay outing.
There will be four exit points to pick-up bays for convenience and security. There will be ample and comfortable seating for greeters.
An air-conditioned bridgeway will connect the terminal to multilevel parking structure. There will be three floors of parking, with a roof deck. There will also be a multilevel Duty Free shopping center. /with Inquirer and CDN Research