MIAA to finish all NAIA prep work for APEC on Nov. 8

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has set a self-imposed deadline to complete its preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in November.

A primary part of the preparations involves outbound vehicular traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

On Tuesday morning, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya conducted an inspection of the NAIA Terminal 1 to check on its rehabilitation, which was nearly complete, and on preparations for the APEC summit.

MIAA senior assistant general manager Vicente Guerzon, Jr. said secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications primarily wanted to find out what has been done at the NAIA for the anticipated arrival of the heads of state of the APEC-member countries.

Guerzon said that Abaya expressed contentment with what he saw, so far, in the MIAA’s preparations for the four-day international summit.

Abaya’s inspection of the NAIA Terminal 1, he pointed out, was only incidental to the secretary’s presiding over the MIAA board of directors’ monthly meeting. Abaya is chairman of the airport authority’s board of directors.

Guerzon told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the MIAA has set a November 8 self-imposed deadline for the APEC summit preparations.

“By that time all preparations must be in place,” he said. The APEC Summit is scheduled from November 15 to 18.

“We will inspect all the terminals, particularly the lounges. There should be APEC information desks, signage in place and, of course, we have to ensure the security of the guests,” Guerzon said.

Vehicular traffic at the NAIA complex and its immediate vicinity is also part of the preparations. Heavy NAIA outbound traffic has been observed specifically in areas traversed by the construction of the NAIA Skyway Project which is slated to be completed next year.

“Traffic is, of course, included in the MIAA plans for the APEC Summit. We will be working with the Pasay City and Parañaque City governments and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to address that,” Guerzon told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Even then, he said, he did not see traffic being a problem for the heads of state who would be provided with police escorts.  SFM