wow...this thread series is so large and has been going on for years (including previous versions of it) and the terminal is still not open!! hahaha.

Link to the original T3 thread... http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=96175

yeah, we'd be reaching NAIA Terminal 3-10 and it would still be mired by controversies

Precisely Because It Has Become A Controversial Project That Issues Jst Keep Going On

SINGAPORE - THE BUSINESS TIMES

Published September 14, 2004

Opening of new Manila airport terminal unlikely
No compromise yet on compensation for construction

By AL LABITA
IN MANILA

(MANILA) Prospects of opening Manila's new US$650 million international airport terminal look bleak as the government and the contractors continue to dispute the compensation issue despite their arbitration hearings in Singapore.

Ms Arroyo (above) voided the deal last year, calling it "onerous' and to the govt's disadvantage.
Piatco, the Filipino-German-Japanese consortium that built and funded the state-of-the-art facility, pegged its compensation demand at US$530 million, but the government refused, offering only US$350 million.

The row was sparked by President Gloria Arroyo's decision last year voiding the 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) deal with Piatco for imposing repayment terms and other provisions which, she says, were 'onerous' and disadvantageous to the government.

The Supreme Court affirmed Ms Arroyo's move and, at the same time, yielded to Piatco's appeal that it be compensated for incurring costs in putting up the modern terminal, the third such facility at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It said 'the government cannot unjustly enrich itself at the expense of Piatco and its investors'.

The investors are led by the Filipino-Chinese Cheng family, Germany's Fraport and Japan's Nissho-Iwai Corp. The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) court held arbitration hearings in Singapore after the government and Piatco agreed to settle their dispute before it. The hearings, however, failed to resolve the row and any compromise still looks unlikely because of the hardline stance of both parties.

ICC's mediation, for which the government and Piatco paid a combined US$3 million arbitration fee, is separate from that of the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes as sought by Fraport AG.

The German firm, which owns 30 per cent of Piatco, sought the World Bank's intervention after it demanded a US$425 million reimbursement from Manila for its investments in the terminal.

A Piatco official, who asked not to be named, says they rejected the government's offer because it was not enough to cover the construction costs.

'Under the BOT law, just compensation includes damages and return on equity,' he said.

But Solicitor-General Alfredo Benipayo says any settlement must be based on three conditions: that the terminal is structurally sound and can be used for its intended purpose; it must be safe and secure; and that actual and reasonable costs are independently determined and audited, based on verifiable evidence.

'Any settlement here would have to follow these conditions. The interest of the government must prevail,' says the chief government lawyer.

Mr Benipayo lashed out at Piatco for refusing to allow the government to inspect the terminal to see if it is safe or to open its financial books to auditors.

'The government rejects any settlement that will put at risk the safety of passengers and employees at the terminal or will require the government to pay a centavo more than the terminal's actual and reasonable cost,' he said.

with the government in fiscal crises i wonder how they can compensate piatco

SINGAPORE - THE BUSINESS TIMES

Published September 14, 2004

Opening of new Manila airport terminal unlikely
No compromise yet on compensation for construction

By AL LABITA
IN MANILA

(MANILA) Prospects of opening Manila's new US$650 million international airport terminal look bleak as the government and the contractors continue to dispute the compensation issue despite their arbitration hearings in Singapore.

Ms Arroyo (above) voided the deal last year, calling it "onerous' and to the govt's disadvantage.
Piatco, the Filipino-German-Japanese consortium that built and funded the state-of-the-art facility, pegged its compensation demand at US$530 million, but the government refused, offering only US$350 million.

The row was sparked by President Gloria Arroyo's decision last year voiding the 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) deal with Piatco for imposing repayment terms and other provisions which, she says, were 'onerous' and disadvantageous to the government.

The Supreme Court affirmed Ms Arroyo's move and, at the same time, yielded to Piatco's appeal that it be compensated for incurring costs in putting up the modern terminal, the third such facility at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It said 'the government cannot unjustly enrich itself at the expense of Piatco and its investors'.

The investors are led by the Filipino-Chinese Cheng family, Germany's Fraport and Japan's Nissho-Iwai Corp. The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) court held arbitration hearings in Singapore after the government and Piatco agreed to settle their dispute before it. The hearings, however, failed to resolve the row and any compromise still looks unlikely because of the hardline stance of both parties.

ICC's mediation, for which the government and Piatco paid a combined US$3 million arbitration fee, is separate from that of the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes as sought by Fraport AG.

The German firm, which owns 30 per cent of Piatco, sought the World Bank's intervention after it demanded a US$425 million reimbursement from Manila for its investments in the terminal.

A Piatco official, who asked not to be named, says they rejected the government's offer because it was not enough to cover the construction costs.

'Under the BOT law, just compensation includes damages and return on equity,' he said.

But Solicitor-General Alfredo Benipayo says any settlement must be based on three conditions: that the terminal is structurally sound and can be used for its intended purpose; it must be safe and secure; and that actual and reasonable costs are independently determined and audited, based on verifiable evidence.

'Any settlement here would have to follow these conditions. The interest of the government must prevail,' says the chief government lawyer.

Mr Benipayo lashed out at Piatco for refusing to allow the government to inspect the terminal to see if it is safe or to open its financial books to auditors.

'The government rejects any settlement that will put at risk the safety of passengers and employees at the terminal or will require the government to pay a centavo more than the terminal's actual and reasonable cost,' he said.


Tell us something we don't know :D

http://203.160.181.151/miaa/default.asp

D man lang inayos links... pangit. walang photos

nakakahiya! kailan ba? =( I really, reeally hope this could open, even by Christmas 2004.

Hmm.....sorry about the posting of the precious article....never notice it was above.......

Anyway, how long has the airport been completed?? Any technical datas(floor space, max passenger volume etc??)??

hey... this was posted twice!

do we have to open the terminal jst for the sake of opening it jst to show to the whole world hey the phils got a brand new terminal but is it safe, secured??? is it really systems ready etc. im as frustrated as thousands of pinoy passengers who come to visit the country every year using the old marcos era terminal that today is like an eyesore with all the modern skyscrapers that u usually see during touchdown, i really pray the government and piatco will finally agree and open the terminal after all the defects, deficiency or what ever that have to rectified to open the terminal to the riding passnergers, airlines

forgive me but whenever i see naia 1 after touch down the terminal looks like it a structure out of this world, that has to be demolished right away

i truly agree times 10 times 10 to the 10th power. Naia 1 is just soooooo obsolete already. Everytime i use the terminal, i feel like im being robbed of the 550 pesos that they mug me for the terminal fee. Its just sad especially once the plane touches down on your destination, it makes you hope and pray na "sana meron din nito sa pinas". But the thing is, meron na!!! And although its not as big, spanky, and shapely built as say SIN, BKK, HKG, KUL, KIX, etc, it is still a far cry from NAIA 1. And worse is the day when you have to come back!!! The moment the plane touches down and then you disembark via the airbridge, you'll definitely feel a level of disappointment. From the rusty air bridges, to the linoleoum floors (don't get me started on that. Whoever thought of putting linoleoum on an airport floor is an idiot. Does nobody mind the loud "tak-tak-tak!" noise that the trolley or cart make when you push your bags around the terminal? Well it drove me crazy sometimes). And of course, the arrival area, where your "sundo" picks you up. Gosh. Ang panget. Imagine being picked up by your friends and family, even your grandmother and they are there looking like prisoners (literally) getting wet in ther rain. Mukha kasing prison bars yung nandun!!! at least ngayon meron nang konting bubong pero pangit pa din!!! I just hope that everyone involved would agree on a compromise soon because Terminal 3 has been a sitting duck for almost 2 years now. It is not getting any newer. My only fear is that when the time comes when they are already ready to open up the terminal, they will find out that it is not suitable for operations anymore because of wear and tear (although it hasnt really been worn yet. lolz). Does the government even hire maintenance people for terminal 3 like janitors, etc? I know there are guards or at least a guard because there is one at the entrance. Well the govt should so that the interior would remain clean and tidy and not sitting there gathering dust, roaches and mice. The least we can hope for is having a brand new interior even though the structure has been built for 2 years already.

If the government couldnt really expedite the openning and they are really doing their best with t3, one ting they can do just to alleviate some of the disappointment from passengers is to renovate the friggin t1!!! Im sure it wouldnt take a lot of money and time. T1 is very small so i bet that they can do it in less than a year. I mean theay have to do it sooner or later since news has it that it becomes the new domestic terminal once t3 opens. And if the are concerned regarding security, well they can do the renovations by portions. they can close down parts of the terminal one by one until the entire thing is done.

Haay...so much for my diatribe. hehehe.

Wouldn't it be funny if the new BKK airport opens in a few years and NAIA3 still hasn't? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

tsk...tsk...we can go on & on & on as usual, but we cant do anythin bout it...its all upto the hands of the tribunal thingy....sobra na talagang kahihiyan ang pasan natin na kagagawan ng sarili nating govierno dito....terminal3 is the biggest single item that immediately comes over to my mind whenever im made to assess phil. govt, 'as practiced by filipinos....'

Wouldn't it be funny if the new BKK airport opens in a few years and NAIA3 still hasn't? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

That wouldn't be funny at all. Nakakahiya lang sa mga ASEAN/Asian neighbors natin.

I think the new BKK airport was also mired in controversy for a few years. but in their case, it was before construction began and was completed - saving enthusiasts like us the drooling and rage and all!! haha... I just really, really hope they get this over with asap!

@Crazy4Airplanes - hahaha...! exactly how I remember T1. hahaha.. grabe... the friggin linoleum floors with the little beveled circles or whatever.

don't get me started on that. Whoever thought of putting linoleoum on an airport floor is an idiot. Does nobody mind the loud "tak-tak-tak!" noise that the trolley or cart make when you push your bags around the terminal? Well it drove me crazy sometimes

and then when I was around 10 or so, I actually thought the waiting shed thingamajig across the arrival exits was a jail!! oh my... ugh! and i'd be like freaked going through there. hahahahahaha...!!! i'm not kidding!

Imagine being picked up by your friends and family, even your grandmother and they are there looking like prisoners (literally) getting wet in ther rain. Mukha kasing prison bars yung nandun!!!

NAIA T2 actually isn't too bad. maintenance just really sucks. I love its architecture though... sorry for going OT...

well... the linoleum flooring maybe because during the time it was constructed.. linoleum is still a fine floor decor...unlike nowadays...well most airports are carpetted...

speaking of Terminal 1, what's up with the renovation that's supposed to be happening while we wait for T3?

absent-minded. i agree with the poor maintenance of t2. whenever i go there. the exterior is just soooo dirty. but the terminal itself is nice. still better that the condemned t1

poor maintenance is what usually brings airports from good to crap. NAIA1 would have been respectable in some ways, if it had put carpets on its floors, replaced those chairs with better ones, constantly cleaned-out and replaced broken toilets. unfortunately that wasn't done, or wasn't done properly.

Wouldn't it be funny if the new BKK airport opens in a few years and NAIA3 still hasn't?

I think it would be hysterical!:lol:

I think it would be hysterical!:lol:

That would be too disappointing. I'd like to see the airport OPENED before the new BKK airport. :)

I know...i was kidding/sarcastic.

I know...i was kidding/sarcastic.

Haha yeah... I knew that :D Just that I felt it would be too disapointing if they opened it later than the BKK airport that was built later as well. ^_^

Haha yeah... I knew that :D Just that I felt it would be too disapointing if they opened it later than the BKK airport that was built later as well. ^_^

wanna start making bets?

what will open first?

NAIA T3
DMIA with 80 gates
BKK's new airport

wanna start making bets?

what will open first?

NAIA T3
DMIA with 80 gates
BKK's new airport

What are the stakes, terms, conditions of this bet? :)

guys. i just watched the Amazing race kanina. The racers went to the Philippines and unfortunately, T1 was the one that they used. They had to take kasi Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific from Auckland New Zealand. Grabe. Ang panget talaga. Mas maganda pa yung airport ng Calcutta sa India which was featured 2 weeks ako on the same show. Lalo pang pumangit kasi ang ganda ng airport ng Auckland New Zealand, ng Hong Kong Chep lak kok chaka Singapore Changi which were all featured kanina lang. Nahihiya lang ako as Pinoy kung anong feeling ng mga foreigners. Kung tayo nga eh napapangitan na lalo pa kaya sila. hehehe

guys. i just watched the Amazing race kanina. The racers went to the Philippines and unfortunately, T1 was the one that they used. They had to take kasi Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific from Auckland New Zealand. Grabe. Ang panget talaga. Mas maganda pa yung airport ng Calcutta sa India which was featured 2 weeks ako on the same show. Lalo pang pumangit kasi ang ganda ng airport ng Auckland New Zealand, ng Hong Kong Chep lak kok chaka Singapore Changi which were all featured kanina lang. Nahihiya lang ako as Pinoy kung anong feeling ng mga foreigners. Kung tayo nga eh napapangitan na lalo pa kaya sila. hehehe

Yeah, it was indeed a let down coming from such awesome airports like SIN and HKG. Here's what I said in the Amazing Race thread.

Also one thing I noticed last night....you know how they show interior shots of the airports where the racers are seen running through the terminal? Well, sad to say that they didn't show the insides of NAIA T1....guess that says a lot as to how ugly and inconvenient it really is. Shame..shame..shame. :nono:

well... as i said in that thread... maybe, its because there is no exciting scenes in their arrival... probably we'll see NAIA1 next week on their departure for the US...

I can't wait for the teams to try to get to their next destination before the others and try to book a flight on PAL. Oh yes, we might see Terminal 2 but hehehe....

Scene at next destination -
Host: You came in last.

yup... we'll let's hope they book for PAL.. since no one can get in the airport without a ticket....but I doubt since most PAL flights to North America is early morning.... unlike the others which are at night.... unless they miss those flights...

PAL flights to North America depart at 4:15pm at the earliest to Vancouver. they could take that flight cuz they will be going into canada before heading back to the US, right...? flights to LAX and SFO depart around 10-10:30pm... if they are going into Canada, then there are bigger chances of seeing PAL and T2 cuz PR106 should be the fastest flight from MNL. hahaha... we'll just have to see, I guess...

They are going to Canada, not the US!!!:eek: So we might just see them going to T2 instead of T1.

yeah. they are going to canada. but remember guys, PALs Vancouver service is only 4x a week. What if theres no vancouver flight for pal on the day of their departure. also, i think that the racers wouldn't want to wait till the afternoon to get a flight. There are lots of flights in the morning that could easily connect them to their destination. sorry to burst your bubble but i don't think it is likely for them to use T2 going to canada.

BUT!!!!! Lets not give up hopes yet of seeing T2. Remember, the teams must still travel to palawan. Puerto princessa is served daily by PAL. But it is still not a guarantee because both Cebu PAcific and Air Philippines go to Puerto Princessa too. If the racers know whats good for them, they will book on a PAL flight. If they thought that NAIA 1 is crap, just immagine their reaction to the old domestic terminal. hehehehe

well.. they are going to El Nido and not in Puerto Princesa... Palawan has airports in Puerto Princesa (central Palawan), Busuanga, Cuyo and El Nido (northern tip of Palawan). I'm not sure if they are all served by PAL and Cebu Pacific....

anyways... they are here, as I remember last Feb 25 to 26th.

I just got the flight Schedule for El Nido....http://www.asiatravel.com/balikbayancenter/accomodations/elnidolagen/

The daily flight schedule are as follows:

Manila - El Nido ETD 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM
El Nido - Manila ETD 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM

Roundtrip Airfare

Adult Php 8, 800 net/adult
Child (2 to 11 years old) Php 5,300 net/child

using the A.Soriano Hangar
http://www.asiatravel.com/philippines/elnidolagen/gifs/aviationmap.jpg

so I guess we won't see the T1 or T2 except for the trip to Canada...

map of Lagen Island...
http://www.marsman-tours.com.ph/images/hotel_elnido_map.jpg

i don't think PAL has flights to El Nido.

where are the pics? bat nawala...

its safe to say that t-3 is dead :sleepy: its so sad cause the philippines really need that terminal -3 almost in desperation not only to accomodate the passengers but also to give the philippines a positive image upon arrival. fraport should have operated the t-3 but greedy gma have to put her noise were it didn't belong.....i notice on the amazing race that the daughter of gma was at the finish line congratulating the contestant...she looks like t-1

are you sure it's dead or is this speculation?

how clean is Fraport's hands btw?

it is NOT dead. no matter what happens, it will still open; it won't end up like the bataan nuclear power plant, primarily because all the parties fighting over it want to see it opened, albeit in their own way. The worst case scenario is for T3 to open in two or three years when the arbitration is done; whichever side wins will make sure that the terminal opens.

Besides, there are already rumors that a businessman is going to embezzle millions by brokering a deal between PIATCO and the government.

and fraport's hands are most certainly not clean. They did their fair share of bribing, among other things.

If this project didn't start under Estrada's term, then we most probably wouldn't be in this mess. And if we simply let PIATCO and fraport run the terminal? what are the consequences?

- we would be barred from constructing another international airport within the vicinity (i.e. clark) until t3 is almost at full capacity.

-PIATCO would have gotten away with cheap materials. Takenaka, the contractor or so of the project refuses up until now to issue a quality assurance certificate for T3. what does that have to say about the terminal, as Takenaka themselves constructed it?

-if T3 ever loses money, under the contract, the government would have been OBLIGED to cover PIATCO's losses.

-Where on earth is the cargo terminal?

-Where on earth is the tunnel? The terminal is on the wrong side of the airport as it is. without a tunnel, people are going to have an even more fun experience switching between airports. Also, without a tunnel, baggage forwarding and cargo transfer is virtually impossible, unless of course, if making a mad dash across the runway with everbody's luggage is an actual option. Or if you want to play it safe, we can get an ancient, retired 747 and use it for taxiing between the terminals!

and finally, maybe its NAIA1's facilities, but let's not forget that T3 is just a consuelo de bobo of what was originally planned, but messed up by gross corruption. :)

solblanc
thanks for the info. yeah if those are the agreement, i could now understand why GMA wouldn't let the t3 just open with the curent areement.

i hope your right ..solblanc...3 yrs is a long time but its worth the wait to know its going to open....i will be going back home for good in november of 2008 and if t-3 is still not open i have to conclude that t-3 is going to have the same fate as the bataan nuclear plant....i really hope that your right..solblanc

I agree with solblanc...T3 is not dead, and the government will see to it that it wont die. At least i trust that will happen, the thing i dont trust is the dates they say it will open.

@cruizer don't worry, by 2008, if t3 isn't open, then it means that you'll be arriving at an upgraded DMIA :D

sounds like your not sure about t-3 ever opening (solblanc) by saying the opening of dmia :sleepy: now that info you give us throws me in doubt of what you said about t-3 opening in 3 yrs no matter what happens...for the record im speculating that t-3 will have the same fate as the bataan nuclear plant...i hate to say it but it looks more more t-3 is going the same road as the bataan....i hope im wrong...lets see if solblanc is right ...i hope he is :)

@cruizer: I was teasing dear :p it looks like you take the issue of this terminal pretty close to heart :D

The Terminal will open in GMA's Time. I can tell shes a really strong leader now that she will have a steady gov't and coalition in support of her

has anyone read about Dubai's terminal three that collapsed while under construction just a while ago? I just found out that Aeroports de Paris (ADP) was the one who designed the terminal. they were also the ones that did CDG's recently collapsed terminal and NAIA-3...!! i dunno if they were the architects, cause I thought it was SOM, but I've read a lot of times about how in the early 90s, I think, Ramos or somebody commissioned ADP to work out the expansion plans of NAIA. no one can prove who caused either of the collapses, but this doesn't seem to be a mere coincidence...

i thought that was NAIA2..

Its Naia 2 that is designed by Aeroports de Paris

yeah. that's right. and SOM designed T3. doesn't T3 have structural problems of itself? guess T1's the only structurally safe airport in MM :D :lol:

yeah. that's right. and SOM designed T3. doesn't T3 have structural problems of itself? guess T1's the only structurally safe airport in MM :D :lol:

And T1 was designed by a Filipino, Leandro Locsin.:)

I hate Leandro Locsin. Unimaginative modernist garbage.

i pray that we get to see that new Terminal 3 open, so we dont have to use the crowded, old and decrepit Terminal 1 that most of us have to endure when we have to make a trip to MNL. i hope its fate wont be sealed bec of shady business dealings and corruption prevented it from opening. I hope the NAIA3 problem will be solved so that NAIA1 will be closed immediately. It's so embarrassing!

@jude.. I think that Mr. Locsin don't deserve to be hated... he designed the T1 in the 60's or 70's I guess and during that time, T1 is still up-class... probably the people to be hated are those tasked on maintaining the terminal... T1 just looked crappy this years because of the construction of world-class and hi-tech airport terminals in other cities.... :D

hay jude dont say that!! oh pls. dont hate him...locsin is in fact one of the better natl artists we have, or all our N A's are actually brilliant & well-deserving to be called as such, c/o our humanities prof. & i agree w/ paul, terminal1's design during its time is impressive & highly commendable (twas part of the marcos couples' edifice complex) & when twas opened in 1981, its one of the best airports in SEA, no joke, its just that we really need to replace it coz decades have already passed & times are changing, t1 has finally come to its retirement stage of usage. :)

I hate Leandro Locsin. Unimaginative modernist garbage.

umm.. all modern-style buildings are unimaginative. prove me wrong.

umm.. all modern-style buildings are unimaginative. prove me wrong.

The word "modern" encompasses so much. What's modern? It would be difficult to prove all "modern-style" buildings are unimaginative or otherwise, when the word "modern" itself is so fluid..

For example, some people would consider the Guggenheim Bilbao as "modern". I wouldn't think this is "unimaginative".

RE: Leandro Locsin's involvement with T1, I only meant to point out the irony that it's the terminal designed by a Filipino that seems to be more sturdy, compared to the works of Aeroports de Paris (considering what happened to CDG Terminal 2F and DXB Terminal 3). I don't know if any of SOM's airport terminal designs (MNL T3 for example) have collapsed.

when i said modern i was talking about the "modernist and international style" of buildings. it's the style of architecture widespread during the 60's and 70's.

i dunno what the Guggenheim Bilbao is classified as. but modernist buildings are usually identified as very little in detail (glass box scrapers), and unlike art deco, built for only its purpose, nothing fancy)

http://www.geocities.com/renell_lope/Others/terminal1.txt

T3!!! my way:D

^ If it was any longer it almost looks like KIX (Osaka Kansai International Airport)! :)

is the other side really longer?

I love the view of the gates at the side of the access road. But am not surprised in the future if they will put "yeros" on the steel gates for "security" crap.

Tom Bradley of LAX is not so secure... Even well wishers could enter the terminal.

The right wing has three gates in the foreground, while the left wing has six gates, And there are twelve gates behind.

At LAX, greeters can enter the terminal (landside only), they just can't get past the security check points to the departure gates (airside). Only ticketed passengers are allowed access beyond security. :)

yup...just got back last month. I hate that terminal...

Anyway, NAIA 3 was shown on TV. may talks daw between Fraport, PIATCO, and the gov't. Ok naman yung seats ng pre-departure area...may cushion... Walkways were cool. Terminal daw is still in good shape. Ganda... But may not be grand as BKK's new airport... At least we get a break from NAIA1. Hope talks go well tom. Pray that it opens in three months as the news feature said... :)

Fraport partner to meet gov't on NAIA 3 opening
The Cheng family of Philippine International Airport Terminals Co., Inc. (Piatco) is waiting to renegotiate with the government on the opening of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Piatco treasurer Jefferson G. Cheng said yesterday new discussions will soon be under way. "We are waiting for them to convene their panel of negotiators. I think the government and Piatco have the mutual interest of laying the issue to rest for the purpose of opening the terminal," he added.

In Malacañang last Tuesday night, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye told reporters that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo favored the opening of NAIA 3, and that this could happen probably by next year.

He also said a prominent lawyer and politician was now helping President Arroyo getting NAIA 3 opened soonest.

Mr. Cheng admitted there were talks between the Cheng family and President Arroyo after the elections, in an effort to resolve the issue.

The government's dispute with Piatco on the terms of the construction and operation contracts for NAIA 3 is pending at the International Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington.

Mr. Cheng said the impression his family got during the meeting with Ms. Arroyo was that the government wanted to open NAIA 3 with Piatco's cooperation, as opposed to a takeover.

"We are hopeful that the government will cooperate with us. We're doing this for the travelling public. It will be a good sign for the country if this terminal can be operational soon," he added.

Piatco, which built NAIA 3, is 60% owned by the Cheng family, while 30% is owned by German airport operator Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (Fraport). The remaining 10% is owned by a Japanese stockholder. The Arroyo government has questioned Piatco's contract to build and run NAIA 3.

In May 2003 the Supreme Court declared the contract null and void, citing onerous provisions and irregularities in bidding. -- Beverly T. Natividad

i hope the issues will be resolved soon between parties to their full satisfaction so we can finally see the t3 open next year

i saw footage of t-3 on the world tonight news..wow t-3 really is a world class airport...hope it will finally open in 3 months or ealry next year ..just great to hear the positive news :)

i saw footage of t-3 on the world tonight news..wow t-3 really is a world class airport...hope it will finally open in 3 months or ealry next year ..just great to hear the positive news :)

I'm already salivating to see photos of the interiors of T3! Is that news footage shown only in the Philippines? Are there any global/international news organizations that carry the footage too (like CNN, MSNBC or FOXNews)?

Glad to hear that they're (the parties involved) actively persuing the end deal to this fiasco. T3 is way overdue and should have been operational couple of years ago.

is the other side really longer?

I love the view of the gates at the side of the access road. But am not surprised in the future if they will put "yeros" on the steel gates for "security" crap.

Tom Bradley of LAX is not so secure... Even well wishers could enter the terminal.


yeah, the other side is longer than the other. i dunno if you've seen the scale models of T3 in... where is it now? it was in T1's checkin before

when i said modern i was talking about the "modernist and international style" of buildings. it's the style of architecture widespread during the 60's and 70's.

i dunno what the Guggenheim Bilbao is classified as. but modernist buildings are usually identified as very little in detail (glass box scrapers), and unlike art deco, built for only its purpose, nothing fancy)

With that definition, I would agree that modernist-style buildings are indeed unimaginative. But I think there is still beauty in their stark functionality.

Personally though, I would prefer a little more beauty in buildings, as would most people, I would think. Maybe that's why the style that's prevalent today is "post-modern".

Will the underground link between T3 and T1/T2 be completed by next year? Is it even being constructed?

theres no sign of construction yet, & its quite difficult to figure how r they suppose to connect t2 & 3 or the 3 of them altogether, coz in a sense, its like theyre facing at the back of each other w/ the main runway situated between them (t1 & 2 parallel & 3-perpendicular), & it would be very expensive as well if u make it underground.

so far yung naia expressway connecting slex pa lang ang 'full swing' 30% completed, w/ columns already.

does it go to Roxas blvd/Coastal Road? we haven't had an update:D!!!

It will but it's not on that phase yet.

will they build the columns to there first or will they finish the road part to NAIA from SLEX first?

keretoce.....i saw the footage on the filipino channel here in the states...it was only shown on the tcf channel...

Finish SLEX to NAIA first.... kainis nga eh. Eh d sana connected na ang SLEX to Coastal... darn

ok... now i have to watch tonight's tv patrol. haha...!! the cut version, which'll hopefully include NAIA-3...

Finish SLEX to NAIA first.... kainis nga eh. Eh d sana connected na ang SLEX to Coastal... darn

imo SLEX to NAIA first is a good idea. :) SLEX to Coastal can come later. like the name of the project, NAIA Expressway, it should prioritise connection to NAIA;)

good job renell! how did you do that?

Palace is still for the opening of NAIA terminal 3
09/30 5:22:22 PM from Philstar.com

Malacañang Thursday said that President Gloria Arroyo has not changed her stand and is still for the opening of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Presidential Spokesman and concurrent Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the statement in his regular press briefing in Malacañang this afternoon.

"This is the subject of continuing studies but the objective of the President is to have an early opening of PIATCO," Bunye said, referring to the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCO), the builder and contractor of the airport.

Bunye admitted that the Terminal 3 has been there for years and it is now time to open the state-of-the-art terminal to the public.

"I believe everybody will benefit from an early opening of Terminal 3," he added.

It will be recalled that the scheduled opening of the newly constructed NAIA Terminal 3 last year was stalled after the Supreme Court nullified the PIATCO contract.

-----------
Yah, yah, yah, yah.............we've been hearing this all the time.........

Just open that damn terminal as soon possible!!!! :bash:

@edmund, MS paint

that's good news, but this has been GMA's old stance. still no date though:(

I just watched a news clip about it @ TV Patrol. Senator Alfredo Lim said: Naiiyak nalang ako sa hinayang... This is good news; hope the terminal FINALLY gets opened =)

yeah!! i saw it too.. damn, it's nice :) Hope it will be a transit hub....even if it's small. Will well-wishers be allowed inside like at LAX before the security check?

WOOOOOOWWWW!!!!!! I just saw it on world tonight sa ANC. Grabe. i wish i could tour the facility with them. Grabe. it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO beautiful. Tama yung sinabi ni Fred Lim. pati ako naiiyak na din in anticipation. my gosh guys. i had no idea that the departure/arrival area is that nice. My gosh. its actually better than LAX. NAIA 3 has a bright and sunny interior because of the lights. whereas ang LAX and dilim!!! last lime i went there, the departure area smelled like piss. yuck!!!!!

Lord, sana po buksan na ang NAIA 3 para naman po sa aming mga atat na atat na at sobrang naghihintay sa kanyang pagbubukas. sana by december!!!! in time for the holidays. kahit yung airport facility lang muna. wag na muna yung mga duty free shops.

thanks renell!

wow, hope NAIA 3 would finally open, hope all the disputes would get settled

Lord, sana po buksan na ang NAIA 3 para naman po sa aming mga atat na atat na at sobrang naghihintay sa kanyang pagbubukas. sana by december!!!! in time for the holidays. kahit yung airport facility lang muna. wag na muna yung mga duty free shops.

Amen! :hahaha: I guess we should all pray to whatever god (or gods) that hears us! Now I'm really all worked-up about this, hope it opens just in time for the holiday rush of balikbayans. :)

awww...I didnt watch World Tonight on TFC.:( I missed it.

but it looks like there is progress, i have a feeling it will open very soon.

A little bit of nostalgia here....okay, I'll admit it....T1 was beautiful in its hey-days. :)

http://www.philskies.net/library/Lemon/MIA2.jpg

http://www.philskies.net/library/Lemon/MIA3.jpg

http://www.philskies.net/library/Lemon/MIA4.jpg

Thanks to www.philskies.net for the photos!

I heard in the news in GMA7 that they plan to have the terminal 3 opened by next year.... oh I hope it opens earliear like this November or early December so I can walk in there during the holidays... :D

GMA7 only had a few shots of the interior with the conveyor belt and the check-in area.. and its bright inside.. probably because of the white interior... boy... I should have watched World Tonight....

yeah, no doubt about it that NAIA 1 was one of the best airports in the region during its time. But now, it is old and needs to be replaced.

ough...i really wish i watched it too. Somebody should have given me a heads up:D

it wasn't on last night's TV Patrol here (which was for the one they air wednesday in manila), so I'm hoping it's gonna be on tonight. I wanna see the inside again. been drolling over those pictures in that Bluprint mag. haha...!

NAIA-1 does look nice in those shots. so much more grand than either NAIA-2 or 3 in their respective times. they could do a massive refurbishement of the interiors and exteriors and recycle it as a new domestic terminal once NAIA-3 opens. that'd be nice.

NAIA 3 declared to be in top shape
By RECTO MERCENE | TODAY Senior Reporter

The officials of the Airline Operators Council on Thursday unanimously affirmed that the NAIA Terminal 3 is in “tip-top shape” following an inspection upon the invitation of the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCO), to disprove claims that the terminal is rotting away.

More than 50 airline officials visited the sprawling air terminal which had lain idle since the Supreme Court’s November 2002 decision declared the contract between PIATCO and the government null and void.

Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Edgardo Angara and Alfredo Lim also visited Terminal 3 and were equally impressed with what they saw.

All three asked why the airport terminal is not being put to good use.

But Malacañang replied that President Arroyo has not changed her stand and is still for the opening of the PIATCO-built terminal.

“This is the subject of continuing studies but the objective of the president is to have an early opening of PIATCO,” said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye. He admitted that Terminal 3 has been idle for years and it is now time to open the modern terminal.

“I believe everybody will benefit from an early opening of Terminal 3,” he said.

About three months ago, Malacañang said government lawyers and the lawyers of PIATCO and Fraport, the German partner in the consortium, will meet middle of 2005 to discuss a possible settlement of the controversial project.

The government, through former airport manager Edgardo Manda, said that the Manila International Airport Authority has enough funds to buy off PIATCO and that the only stumbling block is the final amount emerging from arbitration.

News reports allegedly released by the Terminal 3 detractors said that the multimillion peso equipment, electronic computers and other facilities are deteriorating and can no longer be operated.

To disprove the allegations, Takenaka Corp., a Japanese partner in the PIATCO consortium invited embassy officials from Australia, New Zealand, America and Japan to inspect the facilities last Monday.

All of the officials said they were all impressed by the air terminal’s condition. They were all amazed, they said Thursday, at how PIATCO had maintained the terminal despite its not being used for two years.

“I’m amazed how they were able to maintain it in top form,” Cathay Pacific district manager Ed Monreal said. “The entire place is spick and span. You won’t see a trace of dust.”

Another official, Adin Gonzales of Northwest Airlines, added that all the fixtures were in order. The lights, the baggage build-up area, conveyors, carrousels, escalators and moving walkways were all working.

“They should open this airport, regardless of who operates it,” Gonzales added.

Government and private individuals have voiced their consent to open the terminal while litigation is going on.

Built for $560 million, the terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger and baggage-handling equipment, as well as the latest in bomb-detecting machines.

It covers an area of 1,100 sq m—four times bigger that the NAIA Terminal 1. It has 34 air bridges, 140 check-in counters and 150 concession spaces. It is also equipped with $2 million CTX 9000 x-ray machines which can detect firearms and molecular particles of explosives.

To date, the government has lost approximately P1.2 billion in revenues due to the cancellation of PIATCO’s contract.

PIATCO was contracted to pay the government P510 million annually for the first five years of operation, plus P396 million or 36 percent of all terminal fees collected. Also included is the five percent gross revenues that PIATCO will have to share with the government.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I seriously cannot wait to see this terminal opened up. how does Bunye consider any future opening of the terminal "early"? in two months it'll be two years since it was supposed to be opened. but it's good to know it's been well taken care of... or is that just to convince GMA to let PIATCO operate and maintain it?

anyway, does T3 really have 34 airbridges/gates? renell's drawing only has 21, and I thought that was about how many it had all along.

So how many airbridges/gates does

NAIA1 have?
NAIA2?
and the infamous NAIA3?

Thanks.

it wasn't on last night's TV Patrol here (which was for the one they air wednesday in manila), so I'm hoping it's gonna be on tonight. I wanna see the inside again. been drolling over those pictures in that Bluprint mag. haha...!

NAIA-1 does look nice in those shots. so much more grand than either NAIA-2 or 3 in their respective times. they could do a massive refurbishement of the interiors and exteriors and recycle it as a new domestic terminal once NAIA-3 opens. that'd be nice.

And what about NAIA2 which has so much capacity for domestic flights...Sayang naman kung ma-uunderutilize yun. Maybe an international budget airline terminal like they want to do in Singapore could be an option for old rotting NAIA1.

NAIA1 -- budget airline international terminal
NAIA2 -- domestic terminal
NAIA3 -- international terminal

But what I hope them to do is close down NAIA1... it's so disgusting and such an eyesore upon arrival. :bash: and all international airlines move to NAIA3... which reminds me, parang walang mga LED signs sa labas ng terminal showing flights and airlines. Yung Terminal 2 meron...

hmmm.... I don't think they can make Terminal 2 a domestic terminal.. since it is privately owned (i think) by Lucio Tan or by PAL.... the old NAIA would be a good domestic terminal.. way better than the current Manila Domestic Airport.... at least domestic flights will go on the plane by the gates and not walking to the plane...

pau_p1 : Terminal 2 is the destined and planned all-domestic terminal replacing the old Manila Domestic Airport. PAL used T2 for international TEMPORARILY due to exhausted capacity of T1 for international. T2 is not privately owned. It is owned by the Philippine Government through MIAA. The old domestic airport should be closed down. I wonder why they did not do that ASAP so domestic airline could move in T2.

Anyway. here's a nice review I found for NAIA Terminal 1.

A Capital Airport?
Jun 10 '04

Author's Product Rating



Pros
Clear direction signs

Cons
Poor facilities, security hassles, long check in times

The Bottom Line
I hate answering this as you cant recommend an airport as there are no alternatives. I would say no, but if you fly to Manila you have to use it.


Full Review
I was told that one of the first ways to know you are nearing Manila Airport or to give it its proper name Ninoy Aquino International Airport ( Code MNL) was to look at the sea and watch for the change of colour from a brilliant blue to a dark brown. Unfortunately, that indeed was one indicator I did notice as the coast became nearer.

Once the plane got lower my immediate impression was that the airport was actually very close to built up areas but in some ways this proved to be an illusion as the majority of places people will want to go to are still over 10k away.

On landing, I was struck by how quiet the airport was, there were relatively few planes docked at the piers and only one other plane taxi-ing to the runway, this was about 4pm on a Friday afternoon. Leaving the plane was quick and I was glad to see relatively clear signs telling me which way to go ( always a good bonus in an airport ). The route from the plane to immigration was about 600m or so with no working travelators which could prove to be a difficult if you have trouble walking. On the way there, you pass what seems to be a new trend in airports – the arrival duty free shop. This one stocked only the major brands of cigarettes, liquors and sweets so I wasn’t really interested. The immigration booths were well manned and I was through in 5 minutes, next stage was baggage reclaim which you can see while standing in line for immigration.

This is where the building starts to show its age. The passenger area up until then is relatively clean and modern – albeit still not really looked after, there still were signs up about SARS for example that should have been taken down a year ago. Once in the baggage reclaim area it becomes more spartan and utilitarian. The toilets although clean are in need of refurbishment and specifically locks on the doors of the cubicles! After getting your bag it’s a short ( 40m ) journey to the green or red channels for customs and thereafter into the arrivals hall.

The arrivals hall itself is actually quite small with a couple of ATMs to your left, a couple of Tourist Information and hotel places to your right. There were no shops that I could see to buy some soft drinks or a little snack to keep you going until your hotel. The first trick you have to do is look as though you know where you are going – otherwise you will be approached by the hotel / tourist information touts. Now by touts I mean they are offering overpriced services you can get on your own at a much cheaper price. It is nothing to do with whether they are working for the “Official Tourist Agency” or not. In many countries that organisation is just designed to suck as much money out of people as possible. In the space of 30 yards I was approached by no less than 4 different people asking the same stupid questions
“Would I like a hotel/taxi?”
“No”

Why is it that in tourist places, that these touts don’t use their brain or at least their eyes to think “oh, they just said no to someone else, I will leave them alone”? No, it’s always, “they just said no, if I ask them again, they might say yes!”

Anyway, if you stay on the ground floor, your transport options unless you are being picked up are very few. There is no direct bus service or railway station to the airport. If you fancy a 300m walk down the exit ramp, you can get a passing bus, or a jeepney into town. ( A jeepney is basically an extended minibus colourfully painted with no windows or rear doors. Its one of the main forms of transportation in the Philippines ) I would not recommend this for the first timer though. The main option is to get the “Official Airport Taxi” For this, the fares are set in advance and are displayed on a board beside the rank 30m outside the exit doors. The fare is paid in advance and you are given a receipt and no further money should be paid. For the area I was going to ( Ermita ) the fare was 380 Pesos which is almost 4 times what it costs to get back to the airport. ( The current exchange rate is US$1 - 55 Pesos )

Another alternative is ( after you have checked the departure board for the airport fares ) to make your way up to the 1st floor ( departure level ) and exit the building that way. After this, flag down a taxi dropping off passengers and ask him to put the meter on and off you go. Officially, though, you and they are not supposed to do this. If you do have to negotiate a fare, you have the board fare to base the fairness of what you are offered. Normally, the more confident you are – even if you are bluffing – the better the fare. If you get to about 40% of the board fare, that is an OK deal, not great but OK. Fortunately, I was being met by someone so didn’t have to put up with that particular hassle.

Leaving the airport you are then put into the lap of the gods that is known as Manila road traffic – but that’s another review.

My return flight was at 11.15 on a Thursday evening and I had been warned about leaving enough time to get through the airport. Coming back from Ermita, I left my hotel at just before 8 in the evening and flagged down the first taxi I saw but he didn’t want to take me to the airport, nor did the second or the third. The fourth initially tried to get a fixed fare of 200P then dropped it to 150P before finally relenting and turning on the meter with wails of “its too far, petrol is expensive, wouldn’t get a return fare and so on”. He even tried to say that the meter fare would be more expensive than the “special fare” he was offering. After a quick 20 minute journey, the fare turned out to be 97 Pesos, a nice little bonus he tried to get. And just as I got out the taxi, a Korean gentleman immediately hired him back into the city.

Now the procedure to enter the airport and fly out of the country is nightmare from start to finish. Even before getting dropped off, the taxi had to stop at a checkpoint and the boot opened and checked. To get into the airport building itself, you must have a passport and ticket for a flight leaving that day. If you don’t have that, you don’t get in. Kiss your friends and family away at the front door. 1st check. Immediately on entering the building you have your bags x-rayed and you walk through a metal detector and are frisk searched. 2nd check. You then move to a counter in between you and the check in queues, all your bags are opened and searched and tickets and passport checked, 3rd check. You then join the check in queue and halfway round that, your tickets and passport checked again, 4th check. Then further round the queue, the main bags are weighed and tickets and passport checked again 5th check. Then finally you check in, where guess what, your tickets and passports are checked again. 6th check.

After checking in, I had a look round the ground side of the departure building and there is absolutely nothing to do. There are no shops, no snack areas, nothing except a currency exchange ( which you may need ! ) The only thing ground side are the check in desks. Because of this I went into the departure area, and queued up to pay what to some people may come as a surprise - the departure tax which must be paid in cash, no cheques or credit cards allowed. Remember to keep that 550 Pesos otherwise its back to the ATM for you! (They do take US$ as well though), departing Immigration is just behind and after another 25 minutes queuing up to clear, I was finally into the departure lounge.

At this point it was around 10.20pm on a Wednesday night and I assumed that quite a few of the Duty Free shops would still be open so I could buy those last minute gifts and of course use the last chance to get rid of the last of the Pesos. Wrong. Infact, only one of the smaller shops was still open with 2 other gift shops. There was also only one small bar with vastly overpriced snack foods and one soft drinks bar still open. For example, a standard can of coke outside the airport may cost 12-15 Pesos, but inside I was charged 50 Pesos.

About 20 minutes later the flight was called and I went to the pier entrance. There I had my hand luggage x-rayed again, a footwear x-ray and a body frisk. 7th check. They actually had a sign said Final Security Check but they lied, it wasn’t. At the departure gate lounge there was one more manual inspection of the hand luggage, tickets, passport and another body frisk. 8th check.

This is one airport that you definitely do need to allow 3 hours to get through. I reckon that adding it all up, I had 10 – 15 spare minutes on being in the airport 2 hrs 50 minutes. And this was on a weekday evening, so heaven only knows what it is like on a busy Friday evening or Saturday afternoon.

Now, one other very important factor to take into account is what airline you fly with. Any other airline apart from Philippines Airlines will use Terminal 1 as the national airline has its own entirely separate Terminal 2 for all international and domestic flights. The two terminals are about a 15 minute taxi ride away from each other, so if you are transferring airlines for a domestic onward/return flight, you must allow plenty of time to change terminals.

Do I recommend it is always a question I hate answering as you cant really recommend an airport as usually there are no alternatives if you want to go to that city or country. If I had the choice I would say no, but if you want to fly to Manila you have to use it whether it was recommended or not.


Recommended
No

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May

T2 isn't owned by PAL. it's just occupied by them. actually they are being forced (well persuaded) by the gov't to move their international operations to T3. T2 is the original domestic terminal if im not mistaken.

34 airbridge/gates.. hmm... i thought i was around the number..

T2 isn't owned by PAL. it's just occupied by them. actually they are being forced (well persuaded) by the gov't to move their international operations to T3. T2 is the original domestic terminal if im not mistaken.

34 airbridge/gates.. hmm... i thought i was around the number..

NAIA3 has 34 gates... wow :) That's quite big. Baka naman other gates have 2 airbridges... you know what i mean renell?

hmm.. yea, like that one in T2.. could be possibly. though i dont remember seeing T3 pics with such things

ahh.. ok.. I'm mistaken.. hehehe...:D

hey you could be right. i havent seen any T3 pics in a long time now.

I wonder why NAIA always gets reprimanded for lax security when it has some of the world's most stringent already. i mean... my god, take a look at YVR... you can get all the way into the terminal's food court without you or your baggage or your well-wishers being frisked or x-rayed or checked even once. it's not until your bags go through those hidden conveyors past check-in that they finally get x-rayed. passengers and hand carried luggage aren't screened at all til after paying the terminal improvement fee. for all you know, someone could be walking around the building with a bomb in their suitcases, ready to explode, and not a single soul would have a clue. or he could just go up to the fairmont hotel and throw a bomb out of his hotel room window down onto a plane on the tarmac. at Manila, you'd never even be allowed to make it one inch past those doors without a ticket and passport. your car is checked - no matter how haphazardly - by the guards before you can make it through those gates and up the driveway. it's as if you were entering the White House or something, and those Americans still aren't satisfied. is it just bias or what?

biased... hehehhehe...

@ absent - I know!! YVR is so laxed. And the food court is pretty near the gates. btw, you dont pay terminal fee anymore in YVR, the payment is included in the ticket. Whenever i'm there, i dont even feel like its an airport w/o all the security checks. There isnt even immigration when you leave Canada.

YVR? Vancouver?.... yeah even in the US there is no exit Immigration... when I was in the US we were looking for the exit immigration when we came to the gate.. we thought we went past the immigration.. heheheh

yeah... they've included the terminal fee with the ticket. I dunno bout immigration though. i don't remember them having or not having it... haha...

oh yeah, I saw TV Patrol's footage of NAIA-T3 last night!!! oh my god, that thing is huge!! so vast and spacious...! really different from what you expect to see at NAIA-1 or 2. so fudging nice!!!! I truly hope they can have it opened already... I wanna be walking through there next july when I go back (hopefully, PAL transfers there too...). dang it, I should've recorded it. I wanna see it again...

It's just really bias. Actually, NAIA is said to have the second strictest security right after Ben Gurion airport in Israel.

ganda ng NAIA 1 pics, basta mganda cya

Wednesday, October 06, 2004
NAIA 3 ‘off limits’ to Mendoza, Cusi
By Jonathan M. Hicap, Correspondent

It seems that Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and NAIA General Manager Alfonso Cusi have neither the authority over nor access to the controversial Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The two executives and other officials of the Manila International Airport Authority were kept out the NAIA Terminal 3 on Tuesday by the Philippine International Air Terminal Corp. (Piatco).

Cusi told The Manila Times that they were scheduled to inspect the terminal to assess the status of the airport’s facilities and equipment.

He, who had gone to the terminal ahead of Mendoza, said he did not foresee any problem because a request to inspect the premises was forwarded to the Piatco management days earlier.

However, Cusi said a lawyer identified only as Atty. Tolentino told him that Piatco had disapproved the visit.

Tolentino supposedly told Cusi that the Piatco management disallowed the visit because of the ongoing arbitration on who should pay for the cost of constructing the airport.

At a press conference, Mendoza acknowledged that he would like the NAIA 3 operational as soon as possible, but stressed that questions about safety and security need to be resolved first.

The government has been losing millions in revenues in the mothballed airport terminal. Piatco is demanding payment from the government amounting to $425 million to cover the cost of the construction.

Fraport AG of Germany has filed an arbitration case against the government with the World Bank International Center for Settlements of Investment Disputes.

The decision of the DOTC to visit NAIA Terminal 3 was inspired by the October 1 visit of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Alfredo Lim and Edgardo Angara to the facility with the officials of the Airline Operators Council upon the invitation of Piatco.

The senators’ visit was meant to dispel allegations that equipment and other facilities at the NAIA 3 were deteriorating.

The terminal is about 182,000 square meters in size and boasts of 140 check-in counters and 34 air bridges.

The contract to build NAIA Terminal 3 was awarded by the DOTC to Piatco in 1997.

In 2002, President Arroyo disapproved the contract saying that it was null and void.

Piatco filed an arbitration request in March 2003 before the International Chamber of Commerce of the International Court of Arbitration against the Philippine government.

I saw this news this morning... hmmm maybe Piatco wasn't able to dust out the terminal.. hehehe :D

it was also said in the news.. I didn't got the name of who said this.. that they have found 52 defects in their first inspection and that's why they tried to go back yesterday....

ano ba naman to! talaga bang napaganda nitong eyrport nato na lahat na eh pinaguusapan? patingin nga naman ng some pictures oh.

salams!

malamang napakaganda nga, balita ko lan. haha. :colgate:

Arroyo seeks ‘legal, constitutional’ means to operate NAIA 3
Updated 06:20pm (Mla time) Oct 06, 2004

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered government lawyers to use all "legal and constitutional methods" to ensure the operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 “at the soonest possible time,” her spokesman said Wednesday."The President considers the early opening of NAIA Terminal 3 vital and urgent in the public interest, and will support all lawful and constitutional means -- in the courts, in commercial negotiations, and in the politico-diplomatic arena -- to achieve this goal," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
"The sovereign interest will be upheld and we will not allow it to be subverted by certain quarters," Bunye said, a day after Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCo) officials barred Malacañang and airport representatives from inspecting the NAIA-3 premises.

Bunye did not give details on the government's action on the incident at the airport, saying it was now up to the legal panel.

"We were disappointed that the government was denied (entry). Under the existing law, the Manila International Airport Authorities can exercise oversight over facilities that have something to do with airport operations," he said.

Meanwhile, House Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles and Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella, chairman of the House transportations and communications committee, pushed for the peaceful settlement of the issue.

"We will persuade them to make another try if only to make use of the airport edifice for tourism promotion," Puentevella said in a statement.

"We remain confident that the issue will soon be resolved at the pleasure and satisfaction of both parties," he said.

"A settlement will always be better than a court battle, which would affect public interest and convenience," Nograles said.

The lawmaker said he feared that a breakdown in negotiations and a NAIA-3 closure could discourage investors to the country.

The Arroyo administration had offered to pay PIATCo 350 million dollars in exchange for its operation of Terminal 3 after the Supreme Court nullified the company’s contract with the government in 2003. Piatco however refused the offer, saying it was not enough to cover its costs.

PIATCo filed an arbitration case with the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and with the World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment disputes. Both cases are pending.

President wants NAIA 3 to open next year

Despite unresolved issues, President Arroyo is determined to open the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 next year, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said on Thursday.

Bunye said President Arroyo has also stressed she is ready to face anyone against her plan to open the terminal.

Aside from the arbitration cases filed with 2 international bodies, it was learned that the government is looking into either a commercial or diplomatic settlement with Philippine International Airport Terminals Co., Inc. (PIATCO). The government has offered to pay PIATCO $350 million so it can operate the terminal after the Supreme Court nullified PIATCO’s contract with government last year.

But PIATCO has asked for a compensation of $535 million in its arbitration case with the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce. PIATCO’s German partner Fraport AG has sought a $425-million reimbursement with the World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Meanwhile, solicitor general Alfredo Benipayo said NAIA Terminal 3 operations is unlikely to open because of the deadlock on compensation issues between the government and PIATCO.


Benipayo said the government must not give in to PIATCO’s asking price because in the end, it is the people that would have to shoulder the costs through taxes.


He also cited 3 requirements to be followed before the NAIA 3 is opened. He said the government must be satisfied that the overall structure is structurally sound, useful for the intended purpose and safe from external threats.

early opening eh? early next year nga... hehe

wow! good news to that. hopefully, the glass facades and claddings will not broke off when the operation goes full swing.

well the gov't will try to see that doesn't happen. i doubt PIATCO wants that either, because the finger/s will point to them if that happens.

Gov't to try to settle dispute with PIATCo

THE government will attempt anew to amicably settle its dispute with the Philippine International Air Terminals Corp. (PIATCo) for the opening of the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) “early next year,” an official said.
“Hangga’t maaari mabuksan na early next year [As much as possible, we want to open it early next year],” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said on Thursday.

Between now and December, Ermita added that government negotiators would try to come up with a “commercial deal” with the firm that would allow the government to finally take over and operate the mothballed structure located along the border of Pasay City and Parañaque City.

The administration had offered to pay PIATCo 350 million dollars so it could operate the new terminal after the Supreme Court nullified PIATCo's contract with the government last year. But PIATCo refused the offer, saying it was not enough to cover its costs.

Due to the impasse, the new airport terminal remains mothballed.

To recover its costs, PIATCo filed an arbitration case with the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and hearings have started in Singapore. PIATCo is asking for compensation of about 535 million dollars.

PIATCo's German partner Fraport AG filed a similar arbitration case with the World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The German firm is seeking reimbursement of its 425-million-dollar investment in NAIA 3.

Ermita said the amicable settlement was the “commercial” option the government was exploring, along with the diplomatic and legal options, to take over the terminal.

The diplomatic option, he explained, would involve talking to the German government, which was one of the stakeholders of Fraport.

“Fraport is a German firm where the German government has a big share. Thorugh diplomatic channels, we hope we can reach out to Fraport to know if they are willing to settle the dispute,” Ermita said.

Going through the legal option would mean fighting PIATCo and Fraport head on in the international courts where the pending cases are lodged, Ermita said.

finally some action...

when the terminal finally opens, I'm going to miss all our whining, waiting for it to be opened :D

i dont anymore want to get excited if the same cycle of news goes on & on & on....i see it as simple as this, hanggang walang napapag-usapan ang piatco & the govt, then walang bubuksan... :blahblah:

Gov’t awaits NAIA-3 inspection
By Sandy Araneta
The Philippine Star 10/14/2004

Philippine International Air Terminals Co. has yet to issue permission for the government to inspect the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), a week after Piatco denied a government inspection team entry into the controversial terminal.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi said he had been coordinating with the Piatco management regarding the government’s request for permission to conduct an ocular inspection of the new terminal, which the government panel in the NAIA-3 talks said had several defects.

"I have been coordinating with (Piatco) in order to have an official inspection," Cusi said. "I think they will approve our request. I am just waiting for the confirmation of the schedule."

"I’ve talked to the management of Piatco," Cusi said but refused to identify whom he had talked to, citing legal and confidentiality issues.

He said that once the ocular inspection of the terminal is approved, Piatco will have to power up NAIA-3.

"During inspection, they need to power up the lights, the air-conditioning and other equipment," he said. "There is no tentative date yet when the inspection will be done."

The government panel in the talks with Piatco, he said, only sought an ocular inspection and did not seek an "invasive" or "structural" inspection.

"We just want to see it also," Cusi said, noting that the Senate and airline representatives already conducted their own ocular inspection of the terminal.

Cusi also plans to bring a technical team from MIAA, as well as some members of the Cabinet, once Piatco grants permission to government to survey the property.

However, there is still no confirmation with any member of the Cabinet.

Cusi said the MIAA request will take time, since there must be an agreement between government and Piatco management before they can enter the premises due to a pending court case. "We cannot just go there," he added.

He is confident that NAIA-3 will open and be operational once all the legal issues are resolved. "It’s hard to say when, but this will be solved. There are so many players here involved," Cusi said.

i don't see why PIATCO won't let the gov't inspect T-3. :bash: they could be hiding something we aren't allowed to see, or they still could doing something, perhaps structural tweakings?

im sick of these like issues. soooo exasperating! everyone of them. the govt, PIATCO.

they dont trust each other

i put most of the blame on PIATCO...:mad:

well at least there is some progress, finally...seems like all these legal stuff is taking longer than the actual construction. Looking forward to seeing it getting opened early 2005, hope so.

i put most of the blame on PIATCO...:mad:

well at least there is some progress, finally...seems like all these legal stuff is taking longer than the actual construction. Looking forward to seeing it getting opened early 2005, hope so.


yup i really hope that it opens early next year so when i travel abroad il be using it instead of the old worn down NAIA1..

i hope GMA can show some political will and do what is necessary to give us pinoys a new airport by next year!!

speaking of NAIA-1 anyone been there lately? hows the renovations of toilets and other things going

speaking of NAIA-1 anyone been there lately? hows the renovations of toilets and other things going

the toilets in the departure airside seem to be ok to me, but i didn't seen anything new when i passed there early this month.

are the big barrels of water still there?

are the big barrels of water still there?

Hmm, i think I remember seeing barrels there.. Don't know if it's water though.

nah, still nothing changed ;) barrel of water or barrels of oil... whatever. :D

that is so sad...:no:

Purisima: NAIA Terminal 3 to be operational by 2005
Saturday, October 23, 2004

President Arroyo is committed to opening a controversial airport terminal and hopes to resolve by next year a dispute between the government and a Filipino German consortium that built it, an official said Thursday.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 has almost been completed, but the Supreme Court has ruled to cancel the contract between the government and the Philippine International Air Terminals Co., or Piatco, because of alleged anomalies. Germany’s Fraport AG owns a substantial stake in Piatco.

“The President is committed to opening it, and we are doing a lot of things about it,” Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima told foreign journalists. “If things progress the way we expect it to progress, we can resolve the issue, hopefully next year.”

Purisima said he could not outline the administration’s moves owing to ongoing arbitration between the government and Piatco with the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris and between Manila and Fraport with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington, D.C.

Piatco is seeking to revive the canceled contract. Fraport claims, among other things, that the Philippines has expropriated its investments.

The Supreme Court in May 2003 annulled the contract on the ground that Paircargo Consortium, the private group that eventually evolved into Piatco, didn’t have the “requisite financial capacity” at the time it won the project in 1997 and should have been disqualified from bidding.

The Court also voided the agreement allowing Piatco to run the terminal, because it contained amendments that effectively converted the deal with the government “into an entirely different agreement from the contract [tendered] upon.”

It said, however, that the government must reimburse Piatco for the expenses it legally incurred in undertaking the project. Piatco claims it invested US$650 million.

The Court upheld the ruling in February.

OMG....but when in 2005? I hope this is final.

Wow...so exactly when? this is something to be excited about.

well at least it isn't much later, in 2010:D

hehe good thing we plan to go visit dec. 2005;)

lol...Thats the very end of 2005. It better be open by then.

I hope it will open on August 2005 coz my relatives from the US will visit here. It is great if they find some improvement in our country at least a good airport.

I hope it opens in the beginning of 2005 so that all the tourists of that year can enter the country through that airport. And i'm going to the Philippines on June, so i hope to finally use that airport before i go to Canada (going back home will be rare when i'm over there).

it better be open at the very least before the SEA Games. that'd be extremely embarassing to have them go through T1...

share ko lang sa inyo tong mga pix na kuha ko sa singapore... instead na mag-taxi, nag-MRT na lang ako papuntang Changi Airport from Yio Chu Kang..


Tenah Merah station
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/changi_mrt_1.jpg

Changi Airport entrance from MRT station
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/changi_mrt_2.jpg


sana magkaroon ng MRT station kagaya nito sa T3! :D

sana magkaroon ng MRT station kagaya nito sa T3!

I know! I've been there also and it is quite amazing. Maybe the LRT 1 extention Airport/Intermodal station will be as good or better, since line 2 has shown us that it is possible to have an ultra-modern line in MM.

Isn't it that the planned extension of LRT Line 1's station isn't even nowhere near NAIA? You might still have to catch a ride from the station to the airport itself.

nah, it has no direct link to either of the 3 naia terminals, it will strictly be passing only thru the coastal road & aguinaldo hi-way. well i suppose, they have eversince thought bout it, maybe theyre still on a kinda 'wait & see' stage if which between manila & clark would be developed as the country's offcial international gateway. kasi the latter is really the one on the agenda of the president, so.....just an opinion....

Isn't it that the planned extension of LRT Line 1's station isn't even nowhere near NAIA? You might still have to catch a ride from the station to the airport itself.
It's better to have a different line or track to the airport. Parang may interchange just like Tenah Merah station. Baba na lang yung mga pupunta sa airport sa interchange. Then yung airport line may mga station sa bawat terminals. :D

lets not get ahead of ourselves guys.. the airport has to open first before the mrt/lrt terminals can be put in place.. :P

although i do agree on both points that

1) it would be alot better if there is a terminal connecting to the new airport..
2) it should be opened before the SEAG next year..

oh boy.. its going to be an exciting year next year..

yeah, who knows...when will the darn airport open

share ko lang sa inyo tong mga pix na kuha ko sa singapore... instead na mag-taxi, nag-MRT na lang ako papuntang Changi Airport from Yio Chu Kang..

sana magkaroon ng MRT station kagaya nito sa T3! :D

Yup, sana nga magkaroon ng ganito sa maynila. Hangang-hanga rin ako nung ginamit ko yung MRT link ng Singapore MRT papuntang Changi nung isang buwan lang. Tapos, kahit maganda na yung airport ng SIN, tuloy pa rin ang constructions at renovations.

Hehehe... kasi daw.. sa dami ng pera ng Singapore... kaya nila magrenovate ng magrenovate... kahit daw maliit na bitak sa kalye at maayos ayos pa eh repair nila agad ehh....

haha. whow! I'll ask my Singaporean workmates if that is true. I always hear their complains about our politicians...

It's better to have a different line or track to the airport. Parang may interchange just like Tenah Merah station. Baba na lang yung mga pupunta sa airport sa interchange. Then yung airport line may mga station sa bawat terminals. :D

yeah this is a good option, to have an airport line branching out of the main line along the bay going straight to the airport. But before this happens, as others have said, the T3 needs to open first:D

Sorry can someone please translate what has been said about Singapore's MRT into english? Thanks...

Don't worry, its all good things:)

"share ko lang sa inyo tong mga pix na kuha ko sa singapore... instead na mag-taxi, nag-MRT na lang ako papuntang Changi Airport from Yio Chu Kang.. "

means...Let me share some pics i took in Singapore. Instead of using the taxis, i used the MRT to go to Changi Airport from Yio Chu Kang.

"sana magkaroon ng MRT station kagaya nito sa T3!"

this means...if only there was an MRT station like this in T3!

"Yup, sana nga magkaroon ng ganito sa maynila. Hangang-hanga rin ako nung ginamit ko yung MRT link ng Singapore MRT papuntang Changi nung isang buwan lang. Tapos, kahit maganda na yung airport ng SIN, tuloy pa rin ang constructions at renovations."

this means...Yup, if only there was something like that in Manila. (sorry, i can understand the second sentence but i cant translate it:D) Third sentence - And, even if Singapore's airport is nice, there are still renovations and constructions.

"Hehehe... kasi daw.. sa dami ng pera ng Singapore... kaya nila magrenovate ng magrenovate... kahit daw maliit na bitak sa kalye at maayos ayos pa eh repair nila agad ehh...."

hehehe...its because Singapore has lots of money....thats why they can keep renovating. Even if there is a little damage on the road, they will still repair it.

There you go...I think i did a pretty good job, not perfect though.

forgot about this one:

"It's better to have a different line or track to the airport. Parang may interchange just like Tenah Merah station. Baba na lang yung mga pupunta sa airport sa interchange. Then yung airport line may mga station sa bawat terminals."

This means...(skipping the english)...An interchange just like Tenah Merah station. Those that go to the airport just get down on at the interchange. Then, the airport line has a station in the terminal.

Don't worry, its all good things:)

"share ko lang sa inyo tong mga pix na kuha ko sa singapore... instead na mag-taxi, nag-MRT na lang ako papuntang Changi Airport from Yio Chu Kang.. "

means...Let me share some pics i took in Singapore. Instead of using the taxis, i used the MRT to go to Changi Airport from Yio Chu Kang.

"sana magkaroon ng MRT station kagaya nito sa T3!"

this means...if only there was an MRT station like this in T3!

"Yup, sana nga magkaroon ng ganito sa maynila. Hangang-hanga rin ako nung ginamit ko yung MRT link ng Singapore MRT papuntang Changi nung isang buwan lang. Tapos, kahit maganda na yung airport ng SIN, tuloy pa rin ang constructions at renovations."

this means...Yup, if only there was something like that in Manila. (sorry, i can understand the second sentence but i cant translate it:D) Third sentence - And, even if Singapore's airport is nice, there are still renovations and constructions.

"Hehehe... kasi daw.. sa dami ng pera ng Singapore... kaya nila magrenovate ng magrenovate... kahit daw maliit na bitak sa kalye at maayos ayos pa eh repair nila agad ehh...."

hehehe...its because Singapore has lots of money....thats why they can keep renovating. Even if there is a little damage on the road, they will still repair it.

There you go...I think i did a pretty good job, not perfect though.

haha I don't insist that only good things must be said about Singapore, I only want to find out more about whats going on, out of curiosity rather than being overly patriotic.

Thanks for the translation.

Will the airport move to Clark in the near future? What role with the existing NAIA serve in the future then?

There has been so much talk about water or oil barrels at the NAIA T1. Can someone post pictures of what the existing Manila airports look like? Or are pictures not allowed in the airports just like on the MRT Lines?

Are the cab fares to Manila expensive and does it take long to travel to the city? If it is then its better to go with express rail than commuter rail like Singapore's. After all, unless cab fares are expensive and cab rides take forever, airport users will choose cab over train anytime.

What's the total handling capacity of NAIA once T3 is open and how many passengers use it annually at present moment?

Yes, Clark international airport is supposed to start construction next year. It will be the country's primary gateway to the world. NAIA, once DMIA is completed will become a secondary airport similar to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (in contrast to Narita). Other examples are NYC's La Guardia and JFK airports and London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Cab fares in MM are relatively inexpensive compared to other cities. There are special airport taxis that take passengers from the airport to anywhere in MM and its surroundings. Normal city taxis cannot pickup passengers in the airport, only airport cabs are allowed. They cost a little more than ordinary taxis. There are 3 existing MRT/LRT lines in MM, but none of them goes to the airport. Line 1 extention, which will start construction next year will go to the airport (just read the posts above for our thoughts of it).

T1's capacity is 8 million anually, but it is currently operating at 14 million passengers anually. So we are in desperate need for T3 to open because it has a capacity of about 15 million passengers anually. T2 (supposed to be a purely domestic airport; but is currently being used by PAL) has a capacity of 2-3 million passengers, but it is currently operating more than that because of PAL's international and domestic flights. There is also a small old domestic terminal that other local airlines use.

however, clark airport is only constructing phase 1 so far... the capacity of that phase will be less than that of naia t1. While in the future, the goal is to have DMIA replace NAIA, the two airports will be complementary for now due to lack of proper infrastructure between clark AB and metro manila. DMIA will initially cater to budget airlines. While it would be nice to build something on the level of HKIA or KLIA, we simply don't have the money for it yet. I think that the government has had enough trauma with BOT airports.

If T3 can open, then NAIA's capacity should be okay for the next few years.

What I'm hoping for is that DMIA will grow as an airport on its own, coexisting with NAIA, so instead of a haneda-narita situation, we could have a heathrow-gatwick one. I know that it's much more complicated, but it would be cool, with NAIA slots being the more expensive ones since its right next to Makati (well, T3 is, anyway)

speaking of NAIA-1 anyone been there lately? hows the renovations of toilets and other things going

Here's what I found online! :D


Flush new look for Philippines' airport loos
Manila, Philippines
28 October 2004 12:09

Stinky and dingy toilets in the Philippines' premier international airport will soon get a facelift under a massive renovation programme, officials said on Thursday.

A total of 42 restrooms at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International airport will be renovated under the project, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Two "model" toilets were opened to the public on Thursday to launch the renovation project.

The two new lavatories, one each for men and women, have a "look comparable with five-star hotels", the MIAA said in a statement.

Each restroom has five cubicles, including one for the disabled, and toilets equipped with infrared sensors, an automatic flushing system and bidets.

The top-of-the-line materials and fixtures used in the model units were donated by various suppliers as free advertisements, said Oscar Paras, a senior assistant general manager at the MIAA.

Paras said the model units cost an estimated five million pesos ($88 809), but stressed that the MIAA did not spend a single centavo on them.

The MIAA said the renovation of the toilets is a priority project of airport general manager Alfonso Cusi, who once said, "If we can't manage our restrooms, we can't manage anything." -- Sapa-DPA

great news...!!! finally, some improvement at NAIA-1...! haha...! $88,800 for one washroom sounds like a lot... I wanna see how this turns out....

but the thing is it's free... so about the quality, hmmm.. i'm not so sure about that. but still a good news, nevertheless! :)

Isnt it a little too late? They have to spend that much money, when they are gonna end up opening the T3 sooner or later. Oh well, at least its better toilets for passengers between now and then.

:2cents:

terminal one will not necessarily be shut down after terminal 3 opens. it could be very well utilized as a new facility for domestic flights. a little renovation can do a whole lot to make this terminal up to par with other world class airports of its size. the design is just a little outdated and the facility itself worn out. P1,000,000,000 could do a whole lot on the inside and out... I hope they will do something with the terminal after NAIA-3 finally opens...

hmmm...yeah i hope your right. I only questioned it early because of the previous reports that they will demolish T1 once T3 is operational (which im totally against).

btw...here's a link to the original NAIA T3 thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=96175

And to those that wants to see how the interior of T1 looks like go here (you wont be impressed;) ) http://community.webshots.com/album/169685724VljNhw/1

btw, there are three pages in that album.

haha. toilet renovation and there's even a model unit. :colgate:

''GREAT'' PICTURES! GREAT as in FINALLY THERE ARE PICTURES OF NAIA! But they certainly don't look great. NAIA doesn't look like an International Airport, but rather, looks more like a small town airport or a parking garage.

BUT, looks aside, it looks pretty practical in design. Not too bad (I don't know what the facilities it has).

the facilities are very simple. the duty free shops are very small in size and in number. the food stands are very little and so the choices are limited. i've was stuck there for like 4 hours once and waiting area was so small (before the final inspection of baggage and body check) i could walk around it for 2 minutes. you can never get lost there ;)

MIAA holds soft opening of OFW Lounge at NAIA
The Philippine Star 10/30/2004

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) yesterday held a soft opening of the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Lounge at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

A formal opening will be held on Nov. 3. President Arroyo has been invited to attend the opening.

In an interview, MIAA General Manager Alfonso Cusi said the lounge will better serve the country’s modern-day heroes and give them quality time with their families just before they travel to other countries.

"It effectively improves airport services for OFWs as a token of the government’s appreciation for their contribution in uplifting the nation’s economy with their remittances," Cusi said.

The MIAA chief said the lounge will serve as area where papers will also be processed.

The lounge has a floor area of 320 square meters and is located on the west side of the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1. It can serve a maximum of 150 people at any given time, and is open 24 hours day, seven days a week.

MIAA also plans to install a portable x-ray machine to check baggage of the OFWs.

Amenities include two snack bars that serve free coffee, a television set, chairs, bar stools, two flight information monitors, and the one-stop shop of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

"With the comfort of this center, they can go here prior to actual check-in with the airlines. The POEA and OWWA requirements will be processed at the lounge. Once they check in with the airlines, processing of other requirements are already completed," Cusi said.

He said documents will also be counter-checked with the airlines and immigration after the POEA and the OWWA finish their processing.

"The processing will be faster. They can also be with their families while waiting for their flights here. There will be no delay and this will be faster," Cusi said. "Hopefully, it would also prevent illegal transactions. The center was established so everything is transparent. We are confident that this center will be very helpful in getting rid of illegal transactions."

He said MIAA used an old restaurant area and used renovated furnishings for the lounge. – Sandy Araneta

hmm.. i wonder how it looks like. btw who actually counts as an OFW?

hmm.. i wonder how it looks like. btw who actually counts as an OFW?
I guess anybody who owns that DOLE card that says "The Bearer is a registered overseas Filipino worker" will count as an OFW.

Hope they build another one in Terminal 2.

I guess anybody who owns that DOLE card that says "The Bearer is a registered overseas Filipino worker" will count as an OFW.

Hope they build another one in Terminal 2.

and also in terminal 3 they should also provide a lounge for departing ofws since they comprise a bulk of those travelling abroad wht do u think guys

why do they need one? Non passengers will be allowed to go inside the terminal

Another piece of news: (Business World, Philippines)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES | Thursday, November 4, 2004

Palace to push NAIA Terminal 3 opening

The government is willing to consider even an out-of-court settlement in opening the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), so it can invite more foreign businesses to locate in the country.

"My instructions is to open NAIA-3, and we are now exhausting all legal and out-of-court settlement possibilities to handle that issue," President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo yesterday said in a radio interview.

"I noted that businessmen are looking at [NAIA-3] as a symbol of what we are going to do about our problems, even those that we just inherited," Ms. Arroyo said.

The government is reportedly looking at either a commercial or a diplomatic settlement with Philippine International Airport Terminals Co., Inc. (Piatco), the terminal's contractor, aside from arbitration cases pending abroad.

It reportedly offered Piatco $350 million so it can operate the terminal, after the Supreme Court nullified in 2003 the company's contract with the government to build and operate NAIA-3. But Piatco reportedly wants $535 million, while its German partner Fraport AG wants $425 million.

The court nullified the contract of Piatco in May 2003 given its onerous provisions. It pointed out that Piatco got preferential terms not offered to other bidders. -- Jennifer A. Ng

''GREAT'' PICTURES! GREAT as in FINALLY THERE ARE PICTURES OF NAIA! But they certainly don't look great. NAIA doesn't look like an International Airport, but rather, looks more like a small town airport or a parking garage.

BUT, looks aside, it looks pretty practical in design. Not too bad (I don't know what the facilities it has).

Well, it was built in the early 80s and hasnt changed much. During that time, it was the "Changi" of SEA;)

@Kiel, i have a feeling the government had said that before ;)

yeah, the government tends to become a broken record. Every but of news on NAIA-3 is pretty much the same, except that the compensation price being asked by PIATCO seems to go up every time. Oh well.


btw, here are some T2 pics...

http://www.livelovelink.com/cebu/pictures/man_top.htm

@Kiel, i have a feeling the government had said that before ;)

Haha, I know, it's been repeated for how many times already? I think this is already for real though ;D

Haha, I know, it's been repeated for how many times already? I think this is already for real though ;D

yeah i hope so too. i had that feeling as well couple of times already :D

Actually T2 doesn't look that bad at all. It looks pretty spacious and modern looking and new and glassy with many skylights.

The only ugly thing about it is that the shops there look like temporary structures rather than being actual shops.

T1 on the other hand looks ugly from the outside. Inside too. Really looks like a industrial complex.

@ Ignoramus...well the time it was completed explains things. T2 was completed 1999 while T1 was completed in 1981 or 83? forgot, plus it wasnt maintained very well.

even more t2 pics, as well as PAL and cagayan de oro

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/3915/6/

nice pics...! thanks for sharing...! there aren't many shots of interiors of PAL aircraft. the legroom in the 343's economy section is definitely huge tho...! and i love shots from NAIA-2 where you see their fleet all lined up...! one of the brightest, most colorful tail line ups...!

yeah, cheers for those shots, especially the ones in MM.

PAL seems to be stretching T2's limit, even using shuttles to transport passengers from the terminal to their "remote" parking area, prolly because there is not enough space.

and they should get more shuttle buses to transfer from T1 to T2, any possibly in the future, T3. though they need a tunnel to get that going

yeah, cheers for those shots, especially the ones in MM.

PAL seems to be stretching T2's limit, even using shuttles to transport passengers from the terminal to their "remote" parking area, prolly because there is not enough space.

and they should get more shuttle buses to transfer from T1 to T2, any possibly in the future, T3. though they need a tunnel to get that going

---> They're shuttling passengers cause it's much cheaper to park at a remote gate rather than a gate with an airbridge. T2 is not yet saturated. 5J and Air Philippines can still come in at the Domestic Wing. International Wing is kinda crowded upon arrival of side by side 747's... from LAX and SFO

T2, especially the international wing is at over-capacity. That terminal gets really crowded especially before and after long haul flights. Sometimes, i have to wait for hours for my bag in the baggage claim because 2 flights use the same belt.

even more t2 pics, as well as PAL and cagayan de oro

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/3915/6/

Great photos! :applause: I love the photo with PAL's fleet all lined up. :okay:

well, I was the only person crazy enough to go looking for photos :)

I always go to airliners.net, but i just go there to look at PAL pictures:D

nice find anyways.

I always go to airliners.net, but i just go there to look at PAL pictures:D

hahaha...! same here....

if you guys want more pics, go to the new MIAA site (http://www.miaa.gov.ph). click "MIAA'S WEB SITE" and skip the intro. then go to the photo gallery. they have pics of NAIA T1, T2 and T3 (scanned from newspapers - sad they're not even allow to go in to check it out for themselves). Domestic terminal is also there...

Thanks for the link, lance. They improved the website significantly since i last visited it. Their T1 pics are not that bad, they actually made the airport look acceptable. T1 looks good for its age in those pics.

cheers for the link:)

damn!!! I was searching for the pic of the Old MIA building... finally i saw it. Hehe.

I saw it on a movie before kasi.. "Last flight out" where Pan-am had flights pa to Manila and MNL was a major air transport hub , and people could go inside the terminal just like the US....

so how does it look???, pakipost pls....u mean the old MIA before the Naia 1, yun ba yung nasunog daw?

if you guys want more pics, go to the new MIAA site (http://www.miaa.gov.ph). click "MIAA'S WEB SITE" and skip the intro. then go to the photo gallery. they have pics of NAIA T1, T2 and T3 (scanned from newspapers - sad they're not even allow to go in to check it out for themselves). Domestic terminal is also there...

Great link! The photos weren't that bad either. :okay:

so how does it look???, pakipost pls....u mean the old MIA before the Naia 1, yun ba yung nasunog daw?


yeah! grabe.... astig!

Dami pa flights eh.. busy talaga...parang red pa nga ata carpets sa pre-departure lounges...

<img src="http://tinypic.com/kqj4m">

wow....the old MIA looks so much better than the current NAIA 1!

atleast there are also water fountains on the front of the airport

long time no post. i just want to share a photo i took before leaving manila almost a month ago. rudder, stabilizer, and wings of PAL plane, Terminal 3, and Makati skyline can be seen from this shot.


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid146/pb1829dea5bb8e030ceff348864ebfa7e/f64e97e3.jpg

Welcome back, Y_G! :D

Classic view from T2, Makati skyline looks closer than it actually is:D T3 looks so good compared to the other terminals...:cry:

hey everyone. im new to the forum.

quick question...have there been any decisions as to how they are going to shuttle ppl b.w the terminals?! i think the whole taxi/jeepney system should be consolidated, no!?

/\ Mabuhay and Welcome! :D

There are plans to have underground tunnels to connect T3 to T1 and T2 or a monorail/people mover, but as of now you head to the curb and flag down a taxi or jeepney to make your connecting flight(s) at the other terminals. :)

if only we could do something to open t3....sayang... so no choice kundi ang magtiis at managinip na lamang... :jk: pinoys deserve a better international gateway, especially the OFW's. imaging pagkatapos nilang maghirap sa ibang bansa, pagdating nila sa airport eh ang makikita nila ay ang kabulukan ng T1 at kasikipan ng T2?

i totally understand. my parents sent me to the PI for spring break this year and though im an aviation enthusiast, NAIA 1 still didnt impress me. i mean, it could be worse. however, i flew CX and had to compare it to Hong Kong. Even though NAIA 3 wont be the same, it would be nice to have something to fit the times. ive read a lot that the philippines, specifically manila, is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia but our airport, the gateway to the country, isnt reflective of that. i know things in the philippines takes time, but this is ridiculous.

i know this is repetative, but im new. thanks

welcome....and yeah feel that pain/anxiety/frustration for an excess of 2 years, and you'd know our current position;)

good thing i don't spend that much time in NAIA:D the salt doesn't rub that much in the wound....

seems like the parties are still negotiating about t-3? i really hope t-3 will open sometime in 2005.

i want it opened now na! hehehe

Hay nako buti nalang di kami big time.. Kundi tinitiis ko sana ang kapangitan ng T1 sa paglipad sa ibang bansa. Those parties that are arguing about T3 are really stubborn and stupid. Dapat diretsuhin nalang nila kung bubuksan pa yon o hindi. Hay nako, Phils. has alot of problems thats why sumtymes I just wish that I was born in the States.

Hey guys. sobrang quiet ng forum na ito lately ah. Eniweys, NAIA 3 was faetured in Special Assignment earlier tonight. I was lucky to have recorded it and i am in fact still oggling the video. Its really nice. I finally saw the tarmac area of the terminal. They showed like a minute of it. I wont go the usual way and craete a novel about my feelings regarding NAIA 3 anymore. I think everyone who posts here share the same sentiments regarding its openning. Hehehehe.

Hay nako, Phils. has alot of problems thats why sumtymes I just wish that I was born in the States.

Don't say that. Ako nga, I feel kinda odd as a Philippine citizen who was born outside of the country.

Hey guys. sobrang quiet ng forum na ito lately ah. Eniweys, NAIA 3 was faetured in Special Assignment earlier tonight. I was lucky to have recorded it and i am in fact still oggling the video. Its really nice. I finally saw the tarmac area of the terminal. They showed like a minute of it. I wont go the usual way and craete a novel about my feelings regarding NAIA 3 anymore. I think everyone who posts here share the same sentiments regarding its openning. Hehehehe.

oh my...! sooo lucky...! did they show the inside...??? what did it look like...? was it recent footage or on file from the past...? the short clip that TV Patrol showed when they reported the inspection visit last month or so was nice but didn't show enough... haha...!

oh my...! sooo lucky...! did they show the inside...??? what did it look like...? was it recent footage or on file from the past...? the short clip that TV Patrol showed when they reported the inspection visit last month or so was nice but didn't show enough... haha...!

watch the replay on ANC... check out the tv schedules on clickthecity.com

watch the replay on ANC... check out the tv schedules on clickthecity.com

I'm in Vancouver though...! hahahaha...! :D yeah... sux... oh well...

Nice terminal indeed. Definitely modern. They need to open it soon! I've read somewhere a long time ago Philippine Airlines refuses to transfer its operations at the new terminal and at the same time refusing the PAL terminal to be turned into a domestic terminal.

I will never fly Philippine Airlines, I would rather fly with Cebu Pacific and SEAirlines. Lucio Tan is the most corrupt person in the Philippines and a Marcos crony.

Jon

I just saw the Special Assignment feature on NAIA 3 on TFC just now. The terminal is an impressive facility currently being neglected. It is by far, better than both terminals 1 and 2. However, it is a bit bare and plain maybe because it is still not yet operational. Would have been nice if the interior had more colors though. Now i really, really, really want it opened!! I hoping Q1 2005.

Airlines denounce NAIA security
By RECTO MERCENE, TODAY Reporter

The head of the 32-member Airline Operators Council (AOC), representing all international airlines in the country said on Thursday there is a danger of losing more tourists from abroad because the premier airport is implementing redundant and unnecessary security measures.

“Right now, we are under increased security measures at the airport, one factor that might affect the flow of passengers, especially tourists in the country,” according to Leoncio Nakpil, chairman of AOC and head security of Gulf Air.

Nakpil said the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) seems helpless in trying to remedy the problem and in this regard, the AOC plans to bring the issue before the powerful International Air Transport Association (IATA) or inform their respective head offices about the matter.

“If the MIAA will not do anything about it, we will go to higher authorities, we will go to the Transportation and Communications Department (DOTC), we will go to our head offices and let our offices go to the concerned agencies like the IATA.”

Nakpil revealed that passenger arrivals have increased by 20 to 30 percent for the whole year, but this figure will double during the peak season from November to January next year.

“There is an additional 15 percent of flights during the Christmas season and this year, we might hit four to five million incoming passengers,” according to Nakpil who added that the projection is an increase from 10 percent last year.

Nakpil explained that tightened security measures going beyond that prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization create chaos, that translate into congestions and delays in flights.

The AOC said that sometimes an airline staff had to go through a metal detector five times, which cost the airline money. “In the airline, time is important, for every delay, it costs money, then a chain reaction happens, it causes delay in the passengers, the flight and everything else.”

MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi said he is calling a meeting among the concerned agencies to look into the AOC’s complaints but said that there is nothing wrong with the security measures being implemented.

“This is just an expansion of the implementation of security measures [being accorded)] on the entry of overseas Filipino Workers and certain airport employees.”

He denied allegations that the increased security inspections would discourage tourists from visiting the country.

Cusi said what the MIAA is doing is implement a security manual, “which is the Bible on security that has been submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

He said that those affected by the heightened security measures should not complain if what the security personnel are doing are based on the “Bible.”

The bone of contention concerns the way the Philippine Aviation Security Services Corp., a private agency, implements the security procedures such as frisking passengers, staff, crew and visitors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 2.

damn it! when are they gonna friggin stop complaining...? they complain when security is lax but continue ranting on when officials react and work to solve these complaints. what the hell...?!! why don't we just get the USA's TSA and these airlines to run NAIA. geez...!

i AGREE very much on what the articles has said... As i have said before, there are at least 5 security checks before you board your flight in NAIA as compared with KLIA's 2 at most (one at the gate, and virtually no XRAY or metal detectors at the departure hall entrance... while everyone can go in!)

1. at the terminal entrace(either side be it east or west wing), passport check by guards at the door
2. X-ray check with metal detector with moderate frisking my guard stationed adjacent to metal detector. shoes are even checked at this point.
3. Red Zone Check.... again, passport check by guards before entering terminal fee area
4. Concourse check.... metal detector, XRAY AGAIN before entering terminal concourse.... heavy frisking is done (as if you can make a bomb inside the terminal between the departure hall and concourse entrance!?). even belt is asked to be removed sometimes! Shoes also... Passport and ticket check AGAIN.
5. Upon getting to the gate, going down the STATIONARY escalator, check again. They make butingting your things... and then my favorite, AGAIN, passport and ticket check by the guards...

GRABE!!!! I hate NAIA

The entrance of NAIA T1 is horrible....a total travellor's nightmare as you have to line up (sometimes for up to an hour) before you can get into the terminal! nakakahiya talaga.

omg. i may have to use naia terminal 1 this december. the last time i used t1 was in 2000. i've been using t2 lately.

i'm scared.

hey rico, where you going this Dec.? am leaving for LA this XMas.. China Airlines lang ako kasi cheap.... so T1... damn
btw, be scared rico... haba ng pila outside lalo na kung mga long-haul flights na sabay-sabay... tapos be careful with your cart... pagnalubak kasi dun sa area... walang tutulong. kanya-kanya

hey rico, where you going this Dec.? am leaving for LA this XMas.. China Airlines lang ako kasi cheap.... so T1... damn
btw, be scared rico... haba ng pila outside lalo na kung mga long-haul flights na sabay-sabay... tapos be careful with your cart... pagnalubak kasi dun sa area... walang tutulong. kanya-kanya
i'm flying eva air from fukuoka->taipei->manila and eva air again from manila->taipei->fukuoka. i tried getting philippine airlines but they're all booked already.

thanks for the warning. i'll be very careful. :(

I wonder what's the reasoning with all those security checks, it seems overboard to have five different checkpoints from the check-in counters to the boarding gates. It seems just a waste of time, personnel and money for the whole thing.

btw, be scared rico... haba ng pila outside lalo na kung mga long-haul flights na sabay-sabay... tapos be careful with your cart... pagnalubak kasi dun sa area... walang tutulong. kanya-kanya

I know!! There are "potholes" on the pavement where ppl form a line and whenever my cart falls into one of them, nobody helps me pick up my bags. It really sucks. I hate that place...so crowded, very little space, yuk!

I've gotten used to it. 2-3 hour wait.... well we are in the Philippines if we go to T1 :D

Kiretoce>>>>all these security checks to please good ole USA! Quite frankly Im not complaining. I would rather arrive in my destination in one piece than not to have arrived at all!

Now out of curiosity, how do they handle security checks as far as the maintenance and preparation of aircrafts for takeoff outside the terminal?

Pearl of the Orient Seas - The Philippines (http://community.webshots.com/user/jbkayaker12)

Jon

I dreamt last night that NAIA-3 just opened. Out of magic, it just opened.

This has gone way too long :D

I dreamt last night that NAIA-3 just opened. Out of magic, it just opened.

This has gone way too long :D

I'd freak out if it suddenly does open tomorrow...! hahahaha...!!! that would be so crazy...!

I dreamt last night that NAIA-3 just opened. Out of magic, it just opened.

This has gone way too long :D

lol...this issue has come into a point where its even in your dreams:D

It's gotten to a point where i've lost any interest whatsoever in it.... :no:

same here.. nasasaktan lang puso ko... everytime this thread is in bold letters.... waiting for new news about it

It's gotten to a point where i've lost any interest whatsoever in it.... :no:

me too.

http://img69.exs.cx/img69/1766/NAIA-T3.jpg

:bash: it makes me mad to see Terminal 3 just rotting away there... sigh... taken recently - a week or so ago.

there are a bunch of other pictures of Terminal 2 and Cebu-Mactan In'l Airport in this thread (http://philskies.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37443&sid=e1ce85f4a044998a497f52a44c31cdfe#37443) over at philskies. NAIA-T2 actually looks real nice in these recent pictures. I didn't remember it being like that last June when I took PAL...

The terminal is still in very good condition; its just that its a waste to have it inactive.

Just wanted to know, how long does it usually take you to get out of NAIA T1 and/or T2 (that is, out of the terminal) from the moment you deplane?

I've only used T1, and since last year it usually takes me about 30 minutes, I think.

It seems quicker now compared to about 10 years ago, when we usually fetched our Dad when he comes home from abroad. Seems like it took at least an hour before we saw him come down the ramp, and the T1 waiting area was very uncomfortable then (I don't know now).

Arriving on T1 is much faster, easier and less stressful than departing from it. It usually takes about 45 minutes to leave the terminal. Depending on how long it takes your luggage to come out.

Arriving in T2 takes longer, though. It only has a few baggage carousels and they sometimes use one for two flights. It is especially frustrating and takes a long time when the long haul flights arrive at about the same time. T2 is very small and is not designed for international flights, so queues tend to be very long and crowded. Expect to be there for more than an hour. Last time i arrived via PAL, i was in T2 for about an hour and 45 minutes.

http://img69.exs.cx/img69/1766/NAIA-T3.jpg

sigh....so close and yet so far....:cry:

T1 is a small terminal, so you expect to go fast there. however immigration might take half an hour. there are numerous queues, but it takes slow last time i went there. baggage claim well it depends.

expect T3 to be longer because you have to walk further.. that's my guess

expect T3 to be longer because you have to walk further.. that's my guess


I dont think so. They have travelators, more immigration counters and better baggage claim belts. I think it will be faster and much more efficient. Singapore and HK airports are huge airports but very efficient.

indeed there are travellators, but remember T3 is much bigger.

Immigration may have a lot of counters, but processing one person may take a long time.

NAIA anti-crime task force activated
By Sandy Araneta, The Philippine Star 12/16/2004

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has activated a task force dedicated to monitoring and apprehending suspected criminals and terrorists at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) during the Yuletide season.

Through the help of the Aviation Security Group of the Philippine National Police, the airport authority, led by General Manager Alfonso Cusi, has enhanced security measures to ensure peace and order and a crime-free airport during the holidays.

Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, director of the ASG, wrote a memorandum to Cusi last Dec. 8 recommending the activation of "Task Force Masid-Paskuhan."

Caro cited the expected influx of passengers at NAIA Terminal 1 and NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 as well as the Manila Domestic Airport during the holidays.

"This poses a significant concern to the MIAA and ASG as unscrupulous personalities, criminal elements or terrorist groups may take advantage of the situation to victimize balikbayans, overseas Filipino workers, tourists and other passengers at the airport complex," he said.

In his action plan, Caro noted that the influx and convergence of passengers and the public at the NAIA complex during Christmas requires vigilance and increase of security coverage operations.

He said the ASG and MIAA, being lead agencies tasked with the maintenance of peace, order and public safety at the NAIA complex shall undertake enhanced security measures and visibility patrols toward the attainment of a crime-free airport during the holiday season.

The MIAA Airport Security Center (ASC) is tasked to assess and prepare the necessary contingency plan.

For their part, the Airline Operators’ Council (AOC) shall provide airline information of scheduled flights and non-scheduled flights to the Task Force through the ASC.

They are also tasked to provide intelligence updates, incident reports and passenger reports and complaints to the task force commander.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the MIAA shall conduct monitoring activities using the closed circuit television (CCTV) against unscrupulous individuals plying the arrival and departure areas.

The commanders of Task Groups Terminals 1 and 2 and Manila Domestic Airport shall oversee the general situation at the terminals, including the parking areas.

Caro’s plan was recommended for approval by Ret. Gen. Angel Atutubo, MIAA assistant general manager for security and emergency services.

Interpreters deployed at NAIA & Mactan airport

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano recently ordered the deployment of multi-lingual interpreters in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Mactan International Airport in Cebu to provide assistance to arriving Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tourists.

Under the Department of Tourism’s "Meet and Assist Program," the interpreters will provide multi-lingual audio and print information to these foreign nationals at the airports’ newly-installed information kiosks. DoT’s project partner Globe Handyphone will also give three-minute-free local calls to balikbayans.

"It is imperative for us to provide excellent service at the country’s point of entry because the first and last impression of tourists towards a destination will depend on how well they are treated at the airport," the tourism chief said.

The interpreters will be available during peak flights originating from China, Japan, and Korea.

The deployment is part of an immediate upgrading of frontline services in the country’s international gateways to cater to the expected huge volume of Chinese, Japanese and Koreans tourists.

Durano said these efforts are all part of his intensified marketing program that aims to maximize the number of arrivals from the most lucrative markets which are Korea, Japan, China and the balikbayan crowd.

According to a report by the DOT Research and Statistics Office, the month of October generated some 319,238 Japanese; 301,192 Koreans and 33,340 Chinese tourists.

cool...! I'm sure that'll really help in assisting these tourists at NAIA and making their arrivals and departures go a little smoother. hopefully it'll make up for the poor facilities of terminal 1.

I was reading trip reports of this guy at airliners.net's forums, and he wrote about this just absolutely bizarre encounter in Manila. he was apparently really pissed off at the large and rowdy Korean tour group on his flight into MNL on PAL. anyway, at the immigration counters of T2, there was this Korean guy ahead of him in line that approached the officer with a totally blank immigration card! haha.. imagine how much harder it would be at airports in countries where English isn't even fluently spoken. i'm sure these interpreters will be of great help...

oh... re: those figures at the end of the article. are they correct..? 300,000+ tourists from Japan and Korea in the month of October...?!? then we'd have at least 2,000,000 arrivals from both in a year...

not really coz the dot targets tourists arrivals this year to around 3m total and of course the biggest comes from japan and south korea, maybe those figures represents the total arrivals from jan to oct, so we might expect around 1 to 1.5 million japanese and south korean tourists this year or 1/3 or even 1/2 of the total foreigners coming to the country

Arriving on T1 is much faster, easier and less stressful than departing from it. It usually takes about 45 minutes to leave the terminal. Depending on how long it takes your luggage to come out.

Arriving in T2 takes longer, though. It only has a few baggage carousels and they sometimes use one for two flights. It is especially frustrating and takes a long time when the long haul flights arrive at about the same time. T2 is very small and is not designed for international flights, so queues tend to be very long and crowded. Expect to be there for more than an hour. Last time i arrived via PAL, i was in T2 for about an hour and 45 minutes.

ya youre right the moment u get out of ur plane u go straight to the immigration counter and if there were no arrivals same time as u, your out of the immigration counter in five to ten minutes and ur there at the baggage carousel, maybe will take the most 20-30 mins to get ur luggages (depensing on how many u have) and ur out of the terminal in abt 45 minutes

How about the way in? T1 and T2 compared? :?