President Aquino gives go-signal for P1.1-B ‘world’s worst airport’ rehab

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III has given the go-signal for the P1.1 billion rehabilitation plan for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminal 1, deemed one of the worst and most hated airports in the world, according to Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas.

At a Palace news conference on Tuesday, Roxas said that the rehabilitation will see structural and aesthetic works to be done in the 4,500-hectare and 30-year-old airport terminal starting January next year and lasting 18 months.

He said they will retain the service of the original architects of the airport—Leandro Locsin Associates since they have the original blueprint and design for the terminal.

‘Expert’ assistance

The government will also get the service of a team of the world’s best airport—Changi Aiport in Singapore to help in the rehabilitation. These experts will come to the country to look into the rehabilitation plan at the end of this month and submit their findings in January next year.

“The structural configuration of terminal 1 is already built so we cannot enlarge it, we cannot move things around… So what we are doing is making the best of what we have,’’ Roxas told reporters.

The rehabilitation of the airport was needed as it had been built in 1981 and it was originally designed to accommodate 4.5 million passengers a year and that it reached this capacity in 1991, according to Roxas.

And while improvements were made in 1996 in time for the country’s holding of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Manila, he said that since then or for the last 20 years, the airport had “processed’’ 56 million more passengers.

Aesthetic facelift

Roxas said the chunk of the rehabilitation will go to aesthetics and interior design for the airport amounting to P500 million. For retrofit/structural upgrades, the government will spend P340 million.

The government will also shell out P300 million for rapid exit taxiways to “reduce waiting time’’ of airplanes.

They will also spend P20 million for improvements in 72 toilets in the airport as well as another P20 million for urinals and another amenities. Roxas also said banks and duty free shops would be relocated.

“We assure the public we’re doing all we can to provide them safe, reliable and comfortable facilities,” Roxas said.