Work on send-off lounge at Naia may start in February

Construction of the P8-million passenger send-off area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1 may start next month.

This after the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) bids and awards committee (BAC) concluded in December  the initial bidding for the construction of the public waiting lounge at the airport.

According to MIAA senior assistant general manager Vicente Guerzon Jr., the BAC is currently conducting a post-qualification evaluation of the bidder being considered for the project which costs P8,060,783.69 and has a target completion date of 100 days.

The construction of the public waiting lounge at the Naia Terminal 1 departure area, he said, was aimed at providing relatives of overseas workers and other airport visitors an area where they could give their loved ones a proper send-off before boarding their flights.

Previously, the terminal had an OFW lounge and a Windows of the World area but these were torn down when the airport’s P1.3 billion rehabilitation began.

According to Naia Terminal 1 manager Dante Basanta, the construction of the public waiting lounge was not included in the rehabilitation because the previous project called for just a makeover and the structural reinforcement of the 30-year-old terminal.

The contractor, DM Consunji Inc., basically replaced floorings, ceilings and partitions; improved amenities; and retrofitted columns. It also upgraded mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire detection and prevention utilities.