Product development (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=635001&publicationSubCategoryId=64)
SKETCHES By Ana Marie Pamintuan (The Philippine Star) Updated December 01, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (11)

Never mind the tourism marketing slogan and website. If the Aquino administration wants to attract more visitors, it should rush to improve the first thing that greets all travelers upon arrival in Manila: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Leaving for South Korea before noon the other weekend, I encountered the longest line ever at NAIA Terminal 1’s immigration area. It was worse than the weeks after 9/11.

Self check-in at Incheon took two minutes (it would have been faster if I had been familiar with the machine), and depositing my luggage took another 10, including the wait.

Clearing immigration took five minutes, including waiting in line. At the security check, I wasn’t made to take off my shoes or get my laptop out of its case. Then I was free to roam the airport. Like most other airports in Asia, it has many clean lavatories with sufficient toilet paper. The airport has numerous walkalators and drinking stations for adults and children.

A large area offered not just free wi-fi but also free use of about 50 Internet-connected computers.

Upon arrival at the NAIA near midnight, it took me more than half an hour to clear immigration. There were too many arriving passengers, and no one could tell where queues started and ended. People were shouting and asking where they could get arrival cards. It was stuffy; either the air conditioning was weak or there were simply too many people.

At Incheon, Korean Air gave my luggage a red “fragile” tag, just to ensure proper handling. When I retrieved the luggage at the NAIA carousel, the top handle had been severed at one end. I don’t know if that was Korean Air or the NAIA handlers.

At least clearing Customs was a breeze. But as I pushed my cart down the sloping arrival ramp outside the NAIA building, I saw that the guards had allowed the crowd to wait right on the street for arriving relatives, blocking the path all the way to the entrance to the parking lot.

After hurdling that obstacle course, I found many people in the crowded parking lot squatting on the curb as they waited for arriving passengers.

Our premier airport reminded me not of any of Asia’s modern ports of entry but the chaotic airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The crowds outside reminded me of a similar scene outside the airport in Peshawar in Pakistan.

For some unfortunate arriving passengers, such experiences are aggravated by being waylaid along C-5 by a robbery syndicate operating with the connivance of some NAIA employees.

Ninoy must be turning over in his grave.


Wow, comparing Incheon airport, the World's best, to Manila airport:ohno:

^^ i thought Changi was the world's best in 2010 according to this airport awards site. :D

anyway, so how much of the NAIA Terminal 3 is actually in operation? from the articles that have been posted here, i get this impression that Terminal 3 is not completely open yet or there are portions that still need to be completed? ive been using T3 since last year (thanks to Cebu Pacific promos) and i dunno what else i havent seen there. to me it looks complete already and theres even a food concourse.

I think the North Wing is still closed and only the South wing is operational. It's 90% complete, I believe it's just this finishing touches are needed to be done together with the completion of the concessionaires and the airport mall.

^^ The North Wing is open, and it is used for international flights. However, not all airport gates are being used.

I think the North Wing is still closed and only the South wing is operational. It's 90% complete, I believe it's just this finishing touches are needed to be done together with the completion of the concessionaires and the airport mall.

How about the structural integrity/ substandard construction issues that the government is saying?

NAIA-3's Piatco supports PPP
By Lala Rimando, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/02/2010 12:18 PM | Updated as of 12/02/2010 12:56 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Piatco, the private firm composed of Filipino and German shareholders that entered into an agreement with the Philippine government, expressed support for the much-touted Public-Private-Partnership program, the cornerstone of President Aquino's infrastructure strategy.

In a paid advertisement on Tuesday, Piatco's newly-elected president Jennifer Enano-Bote wrote, "We laud the President's initiative and sincere attention to fast-tract the implementation of infrastructure projects through its launching of the PPP in its global perspective to regain the confidence of the international business community."

In President Aquino's opening statement during the recent PPP Summit, he mentioned the need to rationalize the country's network of airports, expand runways and terminal capacities as part of the strategy to spur tourism and trade.

Interestingly, the PPP symposium on November 18-19 was held at a hotel across NAIA 3. It was attended by hundreds of executives and representatives of foreign firms, including those who had shied away from the Philippines due to investor perception that the Philippines is a difficult place to do business in.

Piatco is a consortium of Filipino and German shareholders whose contract to build and operate the third and biggest airport terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the country's capital was nullified by the Arroyo government in 2002 and by the Supreme Court in 2003, citing corruption and other wrongdoings.

The airport terminal, poised to be Asia's most modern if it met the target opening schedule in 2002, was mothballed for about 6 years before it partially opened for commercial operations in July 2008. Only 55% of the sprawling terminal is open as structural and safety issues still hound the remaining portions.

Resolve dispute

The PPP framework encourages the participation of private firms, including foreign ones, in the building and financing of the country's key infrastructure projects.

Piatco's Enano-Bote stressed that "The success of President Aquino's PPP program would be measured in the immediate resolution of the NAIA Terminal 3 dispute."

President Aquino had vowed to push for the full utilization of NAIA 3 by December 2010 even as the structural, financial and legal issues remain between the government and Piatco's consortium members--cargo handler Paircargo Inc., Frankfurt airport operator Fraport AG., and Manila Hotel owner Emilio Yap.

Transportation secretary Jose de Jesus, however, previously told abs-cbnnews.com that it is impossible to open the entire terminal for commercial operations since there are still repair and retrofit works to be done on the structurally challenged areas. The choice of engineering firms to do these tasks will still go through a bidding process.

The December 2010 deadline, however, was not lost on Piatco.

"We are optimistic that the President would be able to resolve this long-standing case by year-end as his Christmas gift to the Filipino people," Piatco's new president reiterated.

Just compensation

Recently, Piatco wrote an eviction letter to the concessionaires at NAIA-3 citing the fact that the government has yet to reimburse them for the cost of building the terminal structure.

An expropriation case previously filed by the government recognized that Piatco is the owner of the building even if it stands on government land. The government has already paid a downpayment of P3 billion but has yet to pay for the balance.

The balance has yet to be determined as the value of the terminal is still to be arrived at by an engineering firm chosen by a Pasay City Regional Trial Court-appointed team.

Piatco had made a compensation claim at an international tribunal court based in Singapore that placed the value of the terminal at $565 million.

In its July 2010 decision, the tribunal court said Piatco's compensation claim was not under its jurisdiction since the consortium violated Philippine laws.

Meantime, Piatco is hinting that it is open to a compromise agreement on how much the government still needs to pay them. "Piatco is open to all options available for the immediate and just resolution of pending court cases," the paid ad said.

"Piatco welcomes the immediate opening of NAIA 3 via a cosortium / joint venture with foreign and local investors under mutually accepted terms to achieve the objectives of the PPP framework," the Piatco president said.

I think the North Wing is still closed and only the South wing is operational. It's 90% complete, I believe it's just this finishing touches are needed to be done together with the completion of the concessionaires and the airport mall.

airport mall? meaning they're gonna expand the 3rd level and add more shops in addition to Ministop thats already there? thanks.

The airport terminal, poised to be Asia's most modern if it met the target opening schedule in 2002, was mothballed for about 6 years before it partially opened for commercial operations in July 2008. Only 55% of the sprawling terminal is open as structural and safety issues still hound the remaining portions.Weh di nga?

I'm just wondering, why doesn't Piatco just open its books and show the gov't how much they have really spent for that damn airport to make things easier? After all, they want the gov't to reimburse them, right?

Hindi pa ba tapos ang issue sa airport na ito? The Philippine government already won all its cases, right?

Weh di nga?

I'm just wondering, why doesn't Piatco just open its books and show the gov't how much they have really spent for that damn airport to make things easier? After all, they want the gov't to reimburse them, right?

The books were already open years ago. The NAIA3 only cost $290M to build, you can tell by the cheap materials and fixtures in the Departure and Arrival areas.

PIATCO is charging the government $650M inclusive of bribes to Erap and company.

Why do you think this case has dragged on for years and years and years...:ohno:

Hindi pa ba tapos ang issue sa airport na ito? The Philippine government already won all its cases, right?It did. But those courts doesn't have jurisdiction in our own laws, meaning that the gov't should also settle the problem here. But I think it's more on the cost of the terminal only since the ownership was already settled by the SC.

The books were already open years ago. The NAIA3 only cost $290M to build, you can tell by the cheap materials and fixtures in the Departure and Arrival areas.

PIATCO is charging the government $650M inclusive of bribes to Erap and company.

Why do you think this case has dragged on for years and years and years...:ohno:Really? I haven't seen it in the news. If that's the case, then they're really asking too much. From $290 to $650! Nuts!!! :nuts:

Does T3 have security checkpoints immediately at the entrance like T1 and T2? Is T3's land-side facilities (e.g. check-in hall) open to viewing by non-passengers?

Really? I haven't seen it in the news. If that's the case, then they're really asking too much. From $290 to $650! Nuts!!! :nuts:

Actually very old news already.

Does T3 have security checkpoints immediately at the entrance like T1 and T2? Is T3's land-side facilities (e.g. check-in hall) open to viewing by non-passengers?


yup, there are security checkpoints. they even have x-ray machines and metal detectors.

there is an existing well-wishers area overlooking the arrival escalators but i'm not sure if it's open to the public because i didn't see any person in the said area (that was september 2010). just scan the thread archive for pictures.

^^^^

checkpoints on the departure level.

The books were already open years ago. The NAIA3 only cost $290M to build, you can tell by the cheap materials and fixtures in the Departure and Arrival areas.

PIATCO is charging the government $650M inclusive of bribes to Erap and company.

Why do you think this case has dragged on for years and years and years...:ohno:



Really? I haven't seen it in the news. If that's the case, then they're really asking too much. From $290 to $650! Nuts!!! :nuts:


Yeah really, I haven't seen that in the news as well. But you've got to realize something Ricoyan, there are so many greedy individuals/politicians got their hands on the contract and the procurement of the construction materials. You can't really say the government went cheap on having these structure built, I think the orgininal budget was appropriate and if the codes are followed without pocketing some of it's funds for the construction, the materials that are supposedly being use are not of cheap materials.

On the those fixtures... again, you can't claim they went cheap on these BECAUSE everything was purchase a decade ago. Imagine now many years this structure was already 90% completed, it was more than just 7 years ago. so, yes definitely the fixtures there would be outdated a decade later and it is just now being used( this is probably why the government mentioned they still need millions of dollars to complete the terminal, they probably need to replace some of these worn out fixtures that was never used. so, cut us some slack, your criticisms are really excessive and irrational. You are right somehow that Even NAIA T3 is still not at par with our neigboring asian countries like thailand who openned their new terminal a couple of years ago or so, when NAIA T3 was already 90% 8 years prior to that, it only takes 2 to 3 years to finish a structure that big, with NAIA T3 type of structure or terminal, it should not be more than2 years if the construction and the system run smoothly as it should have been, sadly, it did not turn out to be that way.

MNL is already indicated in their timetable though not times are indicated.

http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/common/image2010/airinfo/ANA_Timetable_English.pdf

Let's try and speculate (although I think the Airlines, Airplanes and Airports thread would be the more appropriate venue) as to what the frequency and times will be for the MNLNRT NH flight.

I'm guessing 1-2PM onwards, considering an 8-9AM departure from NRT, plus 2-3 hour turnaround time at NAIA. That should allow for an early evening arrival in NRT. Hmmm....no connecting flights to the rest of Japan and Asia...so maybe NH traffic will be mostly O/D.

Or maybe they'd mount afternoon flights from NRT, have the plane stay overnight at NAIA, and then return to NRT in the morning. That would be really good...

I'd like to see them coincide with their other partners like AC for connecting traffic. From YYZ, I use AC to NRT, then JL to MNL. If it was NH, it would help me collect more points and use NAIA T3 :).

Looks like we have an answer courtesy of FT member Oorinara:

Manila flight schedule effective Feb 27, 2011;
NH949 NRT 17:55 / MNL 21:55
NH950 MNL 07:20 / NRT 12:25
according to ANA's inflight magazine Nov 2010 issue.

^^Well, NH can then market their trans-Pacific flights which will easily connect with a 1430H arrival (assuming 4 hours flying time and Japan time is +9 GMT) NH008 to SFO leaves NRT at 1705H, same departure time as NH006 from NRT to LAX. Not to mentioned NH1052 which leaves NRT for HNL at 2130H.

However, not all US bound flights depart late afternoon. The ones to the Midwest and East Coast (JFK, IAD and ORD) depart before noon. Oh well, you can't have it all but at least this will be a good alternative.

If prices are good, this is good news for Star Alliance frequent flyers!:)

According to insider, departure at MNL is at 0930H so I'm speculating that it will arrive in late night flight.

I think NH demanded a self lounge at T3 and a GHA handling them is building one for them just to operate at NAIA.

Well, it seems that we were off by two hours for our guesses... but nevertheless, it seems we still have good combination of flights for NH to connect with NH950! Also good inbound/outbound flights for O/D passengers!

This is definitely good news for Star Alliance customers!:cheers:

Any clues as to what aircraft to be used by ANA to/from MNL?

^^ It's a 767.

^^ It's a 767.

ANA is a practically all Boeing fleet with the exception of their 27 A320s (used for domestic sector). The 767-300 (with ER variants) is the type of aircraft which they have the most of. If traffic is good, then we can expect initially more frequencies, and then later on, larger aircraft like their 772s.

So it was the security guards who were tipping the Bundol gang about balikbayan arrivals...:bash: they should rotate security guards and their posts every few weeks...

3 Bundol Gang tipsters in hiding' (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636619&publicationSubCategoryId=65)
By Non Alquitran (The Philippine Star) Updated December 06, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (8)

MANILA, Philippines - Three Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) security guards tagged by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as the Bundol Gang’s tipsters have gone into hiding, a source said yesterday.

The three security guards failed to report for work around three weeks ago following the arrest of Allan Aristorenas, the gang’s alleged leader, and three of his reported cohorts, according to a police official who requested anonymity.

Police teams from the NCRPO and the Parañaque City police are tracking the security guards down.

“We are now on a preemptive mode. We are gathering evidence against the security guards and the possible filing of cases against them,” the police official said.

The NCRPO and the Parañaque City police have the names of the three security guards, who are also neighbors of Aristorenas and his co-accused in Pasay City.

The police official said he saw the uniforms of the security guards at the time they arrested Aristorenas at his house at Pasay City last month but did not bother to check them because he had no idea then that they were working with the gang.

“We could not make public their names as yet as it might jeopardize ongoing operations to get them,” he said.

It was Aristorenas who revealed the identities of the security guards who acted as their lookouts at the NAIA, the official said.

The security guards would pretend to help arriving tourists or overseas Filipino workers carry their luggage to determine whether they are carrying a big amount of cash or important personal belongings.

According to Aristorenas, the gang members, on board a stolen vehicle, would position themselves at the Nayong Pilipino abdwait for a text message from the security guards on the type and plate numbers of their supposed targets’ cars.

The gang men would tail their target vehicle from the airport, bump (bundol in Filipino) it from behind and at gunpoint take over the wheel of the car and rob its occupants before dumping them.

Aristorenas and Robert Bonzon were arrested at their hideout along Maricaban and M. Reyes streets in Pasay City on Nov. 10. A day earlier, two other suspects, Felimon Borillo and Jeffrey Martinez, were nabbed after a brief chase in Parañaque City.

No knowledge

Meanwhile, Superintendent Remus Medina, head of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operations unit (RPIOU) said he had no knowledge that a policeman was the ringleader of the group.

Medina said it was the Parañaque City police who interrogated Aristorenas and his cohorts.

The Parañaque City police said Aristorenas claimed that a certain Arnold, a policeman, was the one directing their operation.

Arnold and his right-hand man, a certain Carlo, are neighbors of the suspects along Eme de la Cruz street in Pasay City.

“I have no knowledge about the involvement of Arnold, the alleged cop, in the group’s illegal operation. I’m not privy to that because it is the Parañaque City police who subjected the group to a tactical interrogation,” said Medina.

Some of the gang’s recent victims are the brother-in-law of former presidential daughter Luli Arroyo and the niece of Commission on Elections commissioner Elias Yusoph, a Parañaque police official said.

Medina, however, claimed that Aristorenas and his gang have not yet owned up to the robberies.

^^ Meron talagang tipster sa loob yan. Buti at na-ID. Hulihin na sila ASAP.

From ANC:

BI employees now banned from coffee shops and restos near the BI office during office hours.

Holiday mess at NAIA (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636651&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Rudy Santos (The Philippine Star)
Updated December 06, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/340/gen1hires0.jpg
Disruption of operations at the NAIA this holiday season is expected to greatly affect tourism. RUDY SANTOS

MANILA, Philippines - Passengers’ waiting lines are unusually long and the situation could get worse during the holidays, spilling over into the start of the new year at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as foreign carriers feud with NAIA Customs personnel.

The latest installment in the yearlong dispute is the decision of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) to stop providing arrival cards to passengers on international flights.

AOC chairperson and KLM assistant station manager Maria Lourdes Reyes wrote a letter to NAIA Customs collector Carlos So, saying the carriers would no longer provide arrival cards effective Jan. 1, 2011.

The termination of the voluntary supply agreement for the cards, distributed to all incoming international passengers, was unanimously approved during a general membership meeting of the AOC at the NAIA last week.

The AOC has been providing arrival cards and Customs declaration forms for the NAIA terminals, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark, Pampanga, totaling around 1.5 million copies a month.

The AOC letter came at the heels of the letter of Delta Air country manager Steven Crowdey, first vice chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez requesting him to stop the strike or disruption of service at the airport by his men.

The strike is reportedly due to the non-payment of the overtime rendered for the BAR by Customs personnel for the last 16 months.

Crowdey had said the work slowdown would greatly affect the tourism industry’s bid to attract more visitors to the country.

The AOC said the country is facing yet another problem with unruly Customs personnel taking their revenge on innocent passengers.

The BAR, whose officials lead the AOC, had received reports that personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) cease service after office hours or at 5 p.m. during weekdays and would not report for work during weekends and holidays.

The BAR had refused to pay the Customs workers’ overtime fees after the Court of Appeals, where the BOC lodged its complaint, ruled in favor of the air carriers.

Since the strike, there have been many instances where the BOC booth at the airport was undermanned, forcing arriving passengers to form long lines waiting for their clearance.

Some BOC officials said there are still employees who render service even after 5 p.m. during weekdays and who work during weekends and holidays for humanitarian consideration.

According to the AOC, the move of the BOC was intended to agitate the passengers and prompt them to hate the airline companies.

For the last 10 years, the AOC had been printing and distributing the arrival cards to all Philippine-bound passengers for free.

The country used up about 22 million copies a year, with Philippine Airlines being the biggest user at five million copies, followed by Cebu Pacific with three million copies.

The AOC also reiterated that suggestions made by some quarters for the BOC men to work in shifts, like the rest of other airport employees, should be taken seriously.

The AOC said the charging of overtime fees has become a neat racket.

The AOC further said it remains a puzzle why the government seems to be slow in addressing an impending airport mess, especially because the holiday season is fast approaching and thousands of balikbayans, tourists and overseas Filipino workers are expected to spend their vacation in the country.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said he is working on solving the various problems affecting the tourism industry.

Lim said he is trying to address the festering complaint of foreign carriers on the practice of immigration, Customs and quarantine of billing the airlines overtime charges for flight arrivals and departures after office hours.

Lim said he agrees with the principle that Customs, immigration and quarantine are Philippine government requirements that must be provided on a 24/7 basis and all costs must be borne by the government.

^^As government employees and civil servants, aren't the BOC people forgetting about their mandate? In fact, most of the Pinoys who they inconvenience are the ones who are responsible for paying for the salaries of these incompetent and self-serving fools at the BOC!

Orderly naman yung pila sa immigration sa NAIA Terminal 1 kahapon nung umalis ako palabas ng bansa. I think gobyerno yung dapat na magbayad sa OT pay ng mga tao sa immigration. Sana maresolved ito sa lalong madaling panahon.

Holiday mess at NAIA (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636651&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Rudy Santos (The Philippine Star)
Updated December 06, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/340/gen1hires0.jpg
Disruption of operations at the NAIA this holiday season is expected to greatly affect tourism. RUDY SANTOS
...
According to the AOC, the move of the BOC was intended to agitate the passengers and prompt them to hate the airline companies.
...


gusto kong maiyak dito...
tumatanggap ba sila ng volunteers? magvovolunteer ako, kahit walang bayad.

Is there any plan to make NAIA terminal 3 looks more awesome and gorgeous at the same time with lots of special variety that can make airport passengers feel cozzy and accessible like having a mini -mall, a hotel, or and etc .... Physical features is modern and glassy yet kinda boring ....

^^ When all the legal issues have been resolved with 1000% finality, kahit anung gawin ng PHL sa T3 pwede. Unang-una papalitan ay yung mga CRT monitors to LCD. :D

legal issues in the international courts has been cleared already, it's just a matter of compensating the builder or investor with the money that is due to them based on what the international courts had decided and ordered. I don't think there is any major plans on T3 facelift, basically just to finish the remaining 10% then run the facility at the same time open its doors for the bidders so that the privatization of the said facility can commence sometime soon.

Holiday mess at NAIA (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636651&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Rudy Santos (The Philippine Star)
Updated December 06, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/340/gen1hires0.jpg
Disruption of operations at the NAIA this holiday season is expected to greatly affect tourism. RUDY SANTOS

MANILA, Philippines - Passengers’ waiting lines are unusually long and the situation could get worse during the holidays, spilling over into the start of the new year at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as foreign carriers feud with NAIA Customs personnel.

The latest installment in the yearlong dispute is the decision of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) to stop providing arrival cards to passengers on international flights.

AOC chairperson and KLM assistant station manager Maria Lourdes Reyes wrote a letter to NAIA Customs collector Carlos So, saying the carriers would no longer provide arrival cards effective Jan. 1, 2011.

The termination of the voluntary supply agreement for the cards, distributed to all incoming international passengers, was unanimously approved during a general membership meeting of the AOC at the NAIA last week.

The AOC has been providing arrival cards and Customs declaration forms for the NAIA terminals, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark, Pampanga, totaling around 1.5 million copies a month.

The AOC letter came at the heels of the letter of Delta Air country manager Steven Crowdey, first vice chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez requesting him to stop the strike or disruption of service at the airport by his men.

The strike is reportedly due to the non-payment of the overtime rendered for the BAR by Customs personnel for the last 16 months.

Crowdey had said the work slowdown would greatly affect the tourism industry’s bid to attract more visitors to the country.

The AOC said the country is facing yet another problem with unruly Customs personnel taking their revenge on innocent passengers.

The BAR, whose officials lead the AOC, had received reports that personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) cease service after office hours or at 5 p.m. during weekdays and would not report for work during weekends and holidays.

The BAR had refused to pay the Customs workers’ overtime fees after the Court of Appeals, where the BOC lodged its complaint, ruled in favor of the air carriers.

Since the strike, there have been many instances where the BOC booth at the airport was undermanned, forcing arriving passengers to form long lines waiting for their clearance.

Some BOC officials said there are still employees who render service even after 5 p.m. during weekdays and who work during weekends and holidays for humanitarian consideration.

According to the AOC, the move of the BOC was intended to agitate the passengers and prompt them to hate the airline companies.

For the last 10 years, the AOC had been printing and distributing the arrival cards to all Philippine-bound passengers for free.

The country used up about 22 million copies a year, with Philippine Airlines being the biggest user at five million copies, followed by Cebu Pacific with three million copies.

The AOC also reiterated that suggestions made by some quarters for the BOC men to work in shifts, like the rest of other airport employees, should be taken seriously.

The AOC said the charging of overtime fees has become a neat racket.

The AOC further said it remains a puzzle why the government seems to be slow in addressing an impending airport mess, especially because the holiday season is fast approaching and thousands of balikbayans, tourists and overseas Filipino workers are expected to spend their vacation in the country.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said he is working on solving the various problems affecting the tourism industry.

Lim said he is trying to address the festering complaint of foreign carriers on the practice of immigration, Customs and quarantine of billing the airlines overtime charges for flight arrivals and departures after office hours.

Lim said he agrees with the principle that Customs, immigration and quarantine are Philippine government requirements that must be provided on a 24/7 basis and all costs must be borne by the government.

:ohno: what a mess! :ohno:

Not all is well at NAIA (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=638772&publicationSubCategoryId=64)

COMMONSENSE By Marichu A. Villanueva
(The Philippine Star)
Updated December 13, 2010 12:00 AM

With the operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) reportedly back to normal, how I wish I could say the oft-repeated idiom, all’s well that ends well. But it pains me to even say that.

What they may call as back to normal operations at NAIA are not exactly satisfying for the passengers coming in and out through the country’s premier airport terminals located in Metro Manila.

After long hours of flight by in-bound passengers, they are naturally tired and anxious to get out of the terminal to get home and rest. For out-bound passengers, they must meet flight schedules on time and to board their planes before the close of the gates.

This is the kind of situation that augured well for Customs personnel at NAIA. They stopped rendering duty beyond 5 p.m. after the airlines under the Airline Operators Council (AOC) refuse to give their claimed backpays for previous overtime rendered purportedly for the past 16 months already.

The AOC retaliated with its own action to cut off its free services to the government to print Customs Declaration Forms (CDF) effective Dec.31 this year. The Customs Bureau would therefore need to produce the CDF of 1.5 million copies a month or about 20 million a year.

The Customs Bureau and the Bureau of Immigration are the only government agencies allowed to transfer the overtime pay of their personnel, or those who will work beyond the usual eight hours of work a day, to the persons or groups they are servicing.

The going rate of overtime pay of Customs personnel is at P30 per hour and P50 per hour for BI personnel. The airline companies also pay for the overtime of Quarantine personnel and even of NAIA executives.

The feud broke wide open after Customs personnel at NAIA demanded for their overtime pay, travel expenses, and meal allowance be denominated in US dollars. This broke the camel’s back, so to speak. International airline companies, including our own flag carrier the Philippine Airlines (PAL), decided instead to stop paying altogether the allowances and overtime pay of Customs employees at the airports since July last year.

PAL elevated the Customs demand to the Court of Appeals. The CA subsequently upheld PAL’s petition that it was illegal to compel the airlines to shoulder the cost of overtime.

For some crooked Customs people involved in lucrative deals at the airports used to ignore their claims for overtime pay which are peanuts compared to what they earn out of their shady transactions at NAIA. But when the tuwid na daan administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III assumed office in June, these extra income from illegal deals at the airport have obviously become far and few.

Last week, only a handful of Customs personnel reported to their desks at the NAIA terminals while at the height of the seasonal travel peak in our country. Thousands of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other Pinoy balikbayan who come here to spend their Christmas vacation found themselves stuck with foreign tourists who waited for long hours to be processed out of the NAIA terminal.

Unaware and not a party to this overtime pay dispute, passengers became unwilling pawns, and worse as victims, by this money play. The hapless passengers spent almost two hours of long queues before they finally got out of the NAIA terminal. Customs personnel dramatized delayed overtime pay by their no-show at the NAIA terminals.

It was almost like a wildcat strike that is punishable under our Civil Service laws. These Customs personnel assigned at the airport terminals are holding sensitive jobs that are imbued with national security interest. So what they did was unthinkable!

But guess what? They got what they wanted by this sheer act of sabotage of airport operations.

As announced over the weekend, all employees of the Bureau of Customs assigned at the NAIA would start to receive today some P250,000 each from PAL and other foreign airlines. This amount represents overtime pay that Customs personnel at NAIA have not received for the past five months.

PAL president and chief executive Jaime Bautista together with Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez made the joint announcement about PAL’s having issued P25-million worth of checks for the overtime pay of Customs employees at the various air terminals nationwide, including those at NAIA.

The amount is part of an earlier deal reached between the Customs Bureau and officials of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) where each carrier will have to pay at least five months’ worth of overtime pay to the Customs’ airport employees. Other airlines are just waiting for PAL’s decision on the issue. PAL accounts for about 60 percent of the entire overtime pay of the Customs airport employees.

Had this issue not cropped up, the public would have not known this rather obscene arrangement that has been going on through all these years. Airport terminals all over the world operate on 24-hour basis. Since government workers are employed to serve on eight-hour time in office, therefore, the work schedule of people working at the airport terminals should be on three-shift basis. But there is no such three-shift schedule being followed at the NAIA terminals.

Starting next year, however, the latest official statement from the Customs chief is that the agency would henceforth implement three shifts and would shoulder the overtime pay of its employees serving at the airports. Alvarez said the agency will hire 78 more personnel to beef up the current 412-employee complement at the airport.

Alvarez also hopes to finalize this week with top executives of the Smart Communications to shoulder the cost of printing the 22 million of improved copies of CDF being distributed to passengers.

While all these operational troubles at NAIA appear settled already, it really seems to be all’s well that ends well. The in-bound holiday travelers arrive in swells at NAIA and now they get stuck in traffic trying to get to their destinations. When these holiday travelers leave after the Christmas season, NAIA will have its next swell.

Ice breaker...
While waiting for the plane to fly (uber delayed due to air traffic)....may nagsesenti sa tarmac...

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1201.snc4/155376_1676586466825_1002379363_1839750_3199343_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs614.ash2/156676_1676587146842_1002379363_1839755_4348503_n.jpg

:nocrook:

Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs837.snc4/69788_1676580626679_1002379363_1839715_1900034_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs757.snc4/65767_1676580786683_1002379363_1839716_5956478_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1196.snc4/154798_1676581066690_1002379363_1839718_4301694_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs591.ash2/154385_1676581266695_1002379363_1839720_6390873_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs734.snc4/65421_1676581466700_1002379363_1839721_1407432_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs907.snc4/72059_1676581626704_1002379363_1839723_5627060_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs614.ash2/156626_1676583586753_1002379363_1839730_2308326_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs815.snc4/69532_1676583786758_1002379363_1839731_455373_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs695.snc4/63518_1676584026764_1002379363_1839732_3609060_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs734.ash1/162858_1676584346772_1002379363_1839734_7349243_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1163.snc4/150552_1676584506776_1002379363_1839735_4170245_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs393.ash2/67135_1676584746782_1002379363_1839736_5509784_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs754.snc4/65424_1676584826784_1002379363_1839737_2739022_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs600.ash2/155245_1676585066790_1002379363_1839739_3330905_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1204.snc4/155645_1676585266795_1002379363_1839741_6576178_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs771.snc4/67193_1676585386798_1002379363_1839742_3646375_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs825.snc4/68544_1676585706806_1002379363_1839745_1046251_n.jpg

More NAIA pix
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs732.ash1/162685_1676585866810_1002379363_1839746_2539634_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs614.ash2/156684_1676586826834_1002379363_1839752_1668366_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1338.snc4/163000_1676587266845_1002379363_1839756_3686843_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs791.snc4/67177_1676587386848_1002379363_1839757_2003163_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs352.ash2/63242_1676587666855_1002379363_1839759_238039_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1338.snc4/162999_1676588546877_1002379363_1839764_3056274_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1177.snc4/154960_1676589586903_1002379363_1839772_3566833_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs600.ash2/155253_1676589666905_1002379363_1839773_4622367_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs740.ash1/163281_1676589986913_1002379363_1839775_7688857_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs815.snc4/69545_1676590266920_1002379363_1839777_5050783_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs604.ash2/155668_1676590626929_1002379363_1839779_1628360_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1219.snc4/155106_1676589506901_1002379363_1839771_5666542_n.jpg

NAIA Terrminal 1 and Runway 06
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1358.snc4/163001_1676590786933_1002379363_1839780_8342273_n.jpg

The Emirati airliners
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs376.ash2/65411_1676590906936_1002379363_1839781_6507110_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs473.ash2/74596_1676591186943_1002379363_1839783_1645803_n.jpg

Someone has just landed, who could that be...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs354.ash2/63445_1676591266945_1002379363_1839784_546592_n.jpg

Ey, its the B777 of PAL! :D
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs734.snc4/65490_1676591506951_1002379363_1839786_3520420_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs049.snc4/34833_1676591746957_1002379363_1839788_2130761_n.jpg

A lot of Arab airliners no? Wait...I haven't seen any Gulf Air yet...oh there it is! :D
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1336.snc4/162858_1676592186968_1002379363_1839790_283194_n.jpg

Looks like NAIA is really busy this month even in T1. It definitely signals the atmosphere of the busy Yuletide season. Well done Habaggatcentral.

I have never really seen T1 with that many aircrafts docked there at a time, perhaps due to the unholy hour I usually arrive in MNL each time. I need to try PAL or other asian carriers soon so I can see the diffference. Maybe this time I would run into some NAIA personel bumping for tips or bribes from the passengers. Then i have something to bitch on when I post here and in their NAIA offices he he knock knock on wood...

Habaggatcentral. Thank you for posting a lot of interessting images with all the aircraft docked at Manila´s busy airport. A great encounter to see your work ! Please keep posting.

nice set Bernie! it's good to see a lot of carriers parked at the same time. that doesn't happen everyday. well, could be because of the season. if youve flown a little bit later in the night, you probably will see Qatar as well. by the way, i've seen their FAs disembark at T1 and man...they were so gorgeous, seriously-clad. they have a good mix of races for their FAs. must be cool to fly via a 5-star airline like Qatar! :)

i think the one that just landed is PAL's B77W. i feel good everytime i see one of them (PRs 2 B777). I dunno why. some pride maybe - that at least one of our carriers got a triple 7. others got dozens of them. huhuhu...

^ Ako, Qatar Airways lagi pabalik at paalis ng Pinas. Yeah, mixed crew lagi ang Qatar Airways flight to Manila and Doha. Maraming Pinay at Pinoy na FA sa Qatar Airways. Okay naman service nila, been to both Business and Economy class of QR.

their uniforms are looking good, right? (uniform lang pala...j/k)
meron yatang Korean akong nakitang maganda na ubod tamis ngumiti.

speaking of Mid East carriers, here's my share.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5259145999_3f55682e0f_b.jpg
when i was denied from boarding Emirates' midnight flight because of visa-ticket conflicts, i went on taking pics instead. :) finally i was able to fly 2 days after, but via CX already. sayang.

Nice shot of KU!

their uniforms are looking good, right? (uniform lang pala...j/k)
meron yatang Korean akong nakitang maganda na ubod tamis ngumiti.

speaking of Mid East carriers, here's my share.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5259145999_3f55682e0f_b.jpg
when i was denied from boarding Emirates' midnight flight because of visa-ticket conflicts, i went on taking pics instead. :) finally i was able to fly 2 days after, but via CX already. sayang.

^^Yeah, nice shot indeed. Very dramatic lighting.

It seems that the Middle East is the second most common region sending airlines here, after Asia. And that includes all of the Skytrax 5 rated carriers with the exception of Kingfisher (OZ, CX, MH, QR, SQ). :cheers:

I can only imagine how aweful the ques in line there in T1. I'm anxious to see the completed renovation in T1. Hopefully when it's my chance to be in MNL or T1 again it's does not look like it's run down again after just a few months or years it is renovated.

Kaalis ko lang last week at sa NAIA Terminal 1 din ako umalis. Masyadong exaggerated ang mga posts at media natin. Maayos at orderly naman yung pila sa immigration (mabilis naman akong nakalusot considering busy hours ako umalis) at malinis yung T1. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napakahilig natin laiitin ang sariling atin.. Eto yung pics ko..

NAIA T1 Lobby
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/9f4b802d.jpg

Entrance and Screening Machine
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/f1d7aef2.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/941aac8e.jpg

Clean CR
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/6d8702bf.jpg

Departure Lounge after immigration
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/b3a413ea.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/383596a2.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/e831669e.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/44d39013.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/ad5d5e69.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/988ef069.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/d99daeda.jpg

Although the ceilings show their age, maasyos at malinis naman. I was surprised na ganun ang itsura ng T1 considering kung gaano ka-exaggerated manglait ang mga kababayan natin. I was pleasantly surprised. lol. :lol:

Ewan ko ba ang iba kung mag-judge exaggerated at karamihan hindi naman nila nakita personally ang terminal :ohno:

puro based sa pictures lang naman ang puna ng iba dyan

^ Ayun nga eh, kung ibang airport ang dinedescribe, kulang na lang sambahin yung foreign airport. Samantala yung sa atin, hindi man lang bigyan ng konting pangunawa (considering 30 year plus na ang t1), tapos puro paninira pa ang sasabihin. We are really our own worst enemy. lol. :lol:

^^ Based sa pictures, based sa standards ng ibang bansa na whoa! wow! effect. :lol:
May mga "getera" pero as what people say, we can't please all people.

Pero iba na kung ikaw mismo nakaranas. I couldn't make an opinion yet with Terminal 1 since I haven't been through it yet.

^ Ilang beses akong pabalik balik ng Pinas, everytime akong dumadaan dyan sa T1 eh okay naman ang experience ko (latest was just last week). I was psyching myself up pa nga dahil sa mga nabasa kong reports na pila at gusot daw sa immigration. Orderly naman at normal yung pila, pareho ng experience ko sa ibang immigration counter ng foreign airports. Natawa na lang ako sa exaggeration at paninira ng media at ng iba nating kababayan.

To be fair, naka-encounter ako ng filthy CR sa T2 dati, one time papunta ako ng US. Pero naunawaan ko naman dahil sa dami ng tao at di pa siguro na-rounds yung particular CR na yun. Again same and normal occurence din yang ganyan sa foreign airports. :D

[QUOTE=chrismartin;68882037]Kaalis ko lang last week at sa NAIA Terminal 1 din ako umalis. Masyadong exaggerated ang mga posts at media natin. Maayos at orderly naman yung pila sa immigration (mabilis naman akong nakalusot considering busy hours ako umalis) at malinis yung T1. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napakahilig natin laiitin ang sariling atin.. Eto yung pics ko..

NAIA T1 Lobby
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/9f4b802d.jpg


Yeah, I usually passed at NAIA 1 twice a year for the past 5 years and the CR is actually not elegant but I never experienced na madumi un CR.
Minsan exaggerated na rin masyado un mga kababayan natin. By the way , I really love the ceiling at the lobby of NAIA 1 compared to terminal 3. parang lobby cya ng five star hotel.Sana lagyan ng cladding un mga beams and columns sa lobby.

^^Thanks for sharing this photo.
I also like the ceiling. Feels like an old 5-star hotel. :)

The queue for passport control was fully loaded last night. (I think it's a good sight, knowing that many OFWs are coming home)
Around half of the lines were used for visitors (but I think even some OFWs are into those lines).

Mid East airlines arrived one after the other - plus CX919. The process was a breeze, and it's hassle free. Apparently some of our kababayans were inexperienced when it comes to airport procedures. Some had to to rejoin the queue after realizing that what is needed is an arrival card, not a departure card. Probably one of the airlines did not provide the cards on board. Makes me wonder - the arrival and departure cards always go together, right?

A middle aged OFW who was ahead of me in my line was anxious that he might have to pay again this time. He's probably referring to the terminal fee. I just said - wala na hong sisingilin. :)

There was shortage of troleys. Qatar and Cathay will have to share a baggage belt. The restroom at the baggage carousel was well taken care of. Somebody is manning it all the time. I think it's newly renovated. This plus some other parts of the old terminal is being renovated or cleaned up. Could have been nice to take photos of those widebodies parked at T1, but I was too tired to do that. Probably next time.

I think the bad thing about this arrival is with the yellow taxi driver. Upon boarding his car and telling where we'd go - he asked how much do I usually pay for this route. I said I pay whats in the meter. Proabably got plans of not using it. I said I need it. (for reimbursement) Then he goes: bahala na ho kayo, tatlong oras po akong pumila...etc.

I remained calm and silent. Then after asking him to take Skyway to Magallanes, I said it's a big turn off to have a taxi driver telling what he just did. A long queueing time is not a passenger's problem. He haven't even run a mile and he's already negotiating for a compensation. Just do your job and whether your passenger will give you more or not, at least you did your part.
Coming from a long haul flight is no joke. Passengers are tired and the last thing they want to hear is a taxi driver asking for more.

I spent half of the route nagging at the poor guy. :lol:
He ended up apologising. I hope he learned his lesson well.
Asked him not to do it again. Pasensiya na daw ako.
Ayos lang. Napagalitan ko tuloy. I usually pay more that what's in the meter. Especially if coming from an overseas trip and if still got few dollars left. (1 or $2 lang, hehe)

For passengers taking T1 (or even T2 and T3), the best place to get a taxi if you don't want the yellow ones is going to the departure level and take the taxi from there. They are not allowed to linger so they will have to leave with or without a passenger.

Nice shot of KU!

^^Yeah, nice shot indeed. Very dramatic lighting.

It seems that the Middle East is the second most common region sending airlines here, after Asia. And that includes all of the Skytrax 5 rated carriers with the exception of Kingfisher (OZ, CX, MH, QR, SQ). :cheers:

:) Thanks guys. We're fortunate to have those middle east carriers. Otherwise, planespotting in NAIA will have to be boring stuff. Thanks to our OFWs. I should go back for more. I'd like to take photos of Qatar which usually parks at the right side of the terminal. Took a lot of CDG and HKG photos. It gets boring after seeing dozens of AFs and CXs. Hehe...It's more interesting to do it in T1.

^^Thanks for sharing this photo.
I also like the ceiling. Feels like an old 5-star hotel. :)

The queue for passport control was fully loaded last night. (I think it's a good sight, knowing that many OFWs are coming home)
Around half of the lines were used for visitors (but I think even some OFWs are into those lines).

Mid East airlines arrived one after the other - plus CX919. The process was a breeze, and it's hassle free. Apparently some of our kababayans were inexperienced when it comes to airport procedures. Some had to to rejoin the queue after realizing that what is needed is an arrival card, not a departure card. Probably one of the airlines did not provide the cards on board. Makes me wonder - the arrival and departure cards always go together, right?

A middle aged OFW who was ahead of me in my line was anxious that he might have to pay again this time. He's probably referring to the terminal fee. I just said - wala na hong sisingilin. :)

There was shortage of troleys. Qatar and Cathay will have to share a baggage belt. The restroom at the baggage carousel was well taken care of. Somebody is manning it all the time. I think it's newly renovated. This plus some other parts of the old terminal is being renovated or cleaned up. Could have been nice to take photos of those widebodies parked at T1, but I was too tired to do that. Probably next time.

I think the thing about this arrival is with the yellow taxi driver. Upon boarding his car and telling where we'd go - he asked how much do I usually pay for this route. I said I pay whats in the meter. Proabably got plans of not using it. I said I need it. (for reimbursement) Then he goes: bahala na ho kayo, tatlong oras po akong pumila...etc.

I remained calm and silent. Then after asking him to take Skyway to Magallanes, I said it's a big turn off to have a taxi driver telling what he just did. A long queueing time is not a passenger's problem. He haven't even run a mile and he's already negotiating for a compensation. Just do your job and whether your passenger will give you more or not, at least you did your part.
Coming from a long haul flight is no joke. Passengers are tired and the last thing they want to hear is a taxi driver asking for more.

I spent half of the route nagging at the poor guy. :lol:
He ended up apologising. I hope he learned his lesson well.
Asked him not to do it again. Pasensiya na daw ako.
Ayos lang. Napagalitan ko tuloy. I usually pay more that what's in the meter. Especially if coming from an overseas trip and if still got few dollars left. (1 or $2 lang, hehe)

For passengers taking T1 (or even T2 and T3), the best place to get a taxi if you don't want the yellow ones is going to the departure level and take the taxi from there. They are not allowed to linger so they will have to leave with or without a passenger.



Bravo Ph Man for telling off the driver!:cheers: A lot of people working in service industries are like that, complaining about their circumstances and not even taking into consideration the circumstances of their customers!:bash: As if waiting for 3 hours was something compared to coming from abroad, flying half a day (especially on economy class), having to deal with foreign customs and immigrations, only to be told by fellow Pinoys that they have "bigger problems" of their own!

Ayun o, sa post ni PH_Man.. okay naman yung experience nya sa T1 arrival at immigration. Nung umuwi din ako ng Pinas, wala ding problema.. can we post more experience like this, para balanced naman ang impression ng t1, hindi yung puro na lang paninira.. :D

Regarding the yellow taxi, ilang beses ko ding nasakyan yan pero sa T3. wala namang naglakas loob na humingi ng dagdag. Kung sakasakali, I would have reported the driver to NAIA management and would have told him to f*ck off.. lol.. :lol:

* Qatar Airways, madalas sa Gate 15 yan naka-park.. lol. :D

^^Thanks for sharing this photo.
I also like the ceiling. Feels like an old 5-star hotel. :)

The queue for passport control was fully loaded last night. (I think it's a good sight, knowing that many OFWs are coming home)
Around half of the lines were used for visitors (but I think even some OFWs are into those lines).

Mid East airlines arrived one after the other - plus CX919. The process was a breeze, and it's hassle free. Apparently some of our kababayans were inexperienced when it comes to airport procedures. Some had to to rejoin the queue after realizing that what is needed is an arrival card, not a departure card. Probably one of the airlines did not provide the cards on board. Makes me wonder - the arrival and departure cards always go together, right?

A middle aged OFW who was ahead of me in my line was anxious that he might have to pay again this time. He's probably referring to the terminal fee. I just said - wala na hong sisingilin. :)

There was shortage of troleys. Qatar and Cathay will have to share a baggage belt. The restroom at the baggage carousel was well taken care of. Somebody is manning it all the time. I think it's newly renovated. This plus some other parts of the old terminal is being renovated or cleaned up. Could have been nice to take photos of those widebodies parked at T1, but I was too tired to do that. Probably next time.

I think the thing about this arrival is with the yellow taxi driver. Upon boarding his car and telling where we'd go - he asked how much do I usually pay for this route. I said I pay whats in the meter. Proabably got plans of not using it. I said I need it. (for reimbursement) Then he goes: bahala na ho kayo, tatlong oras po akong pumila...etc.

I remained calm and silent. Then after asking him to take Skyway to Magallanes, I said it's a big turn off to have a taxi driver telling what he just did. A long queueing time is not a passenger's problem. He haven't even run a mile and he's already negotiating for a compensation. Just do your job and whether your passenger will give you more or not, at least you did your part.
Coming from a long haul flight is no joke. Passengers are tired and the last thing they want to hear is a taxi driver asking for more.

I spent half of the route nagging at the poor guy. :lol:
He ended up apologising. I hope he learned his lesson well.
Asked him not to do it again. Pasensiya na daw ako.
Ayos lang. Napagalitan ko tuloy. I usually pay more that what's in the meter. Especially if coming from an overseas trip and if still got few dollars left. (1 or $2 lang, hehe)

For passengers taking T1 (or even T2 and T3), the best place to get a taxi if you don't want the yellow ones is going to the departure level and take the taxi from there. They are not allowed to linger so they will have to leave with or without a passenger.

QUOTE=ianers_ianized;68873645]Nice shot of KU!



:) Thanks guys. We're fortunate to have those middle east carriers. Otherwise, planespotting in NAIA will have to be boring stuff. Thanks to our OFWs. I should go back for more. I'd like to take photos of Qatar which usually parks at the right side of the terminal. Took a lot of CDG and HKG photos. It gets boring after seeing dozens of AFs and CXs. Hehe...It's more interesting to do it in T1.[/QUOTE]

Right on. One driver did that to me, and I just told him flatly, that he doesn't do that or he would turn off people. I didn't bother to tip him extra. But drivers who do not ask and even try to talk to me, or carry a conversation with me, usually get a hefty tip, more than the usual 10%. My sister does that too, and tells drivers off, emphatically. Hopefully, balikbayans and OFW's will NOT put up with this crap shit anymore.

Actually, sa T3, sa departure area sila. Hassle sa mga uuwi pero mura. Magdadagdag lang ako kung meron. Kung wala, alibi 'estudyante lang po ako."' :lol:

:) Right on. One driver did that to me, and I just told him flatly, that he doesn't do that or he would turn off people. I didn't bother to tip him extra. But drivers who do not ask and even try to talk to me, or carry a conversation with me, usually get a hefty tip, more than the usual 10%. My sister does that too, and tells drivers off, emphatically. Hopefully, balikbayans and OFW's will NOT put up with this crap shit anymore.
If these drivers would be helpful to carry each and every single piece of luggage for their passengers, obey traffic rules, and make chitchat limited to good experiences (instead of ranting about waiting in line, etc.), then there is a good chance they will get tips even when not asking for these.

But for those who flat-out ask for them, makes you wonder if they really were good in the first place, which is why they have to resort to "implied extortion" even before service is rendered.:bash:

Kaalis ko lang last week at sa NAIA Terminal 1 din ako umalis. Masyadong exaggerated ang mga posts at media natin. Maayos at orderly naman yung pila sa immigration (mabilis naman akong nakalusot considering busy hours ako umalis) at malinis yung T1. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napakahilig natin laiitin ang sariling atin.. Eto yung pics ko..

Although the ceilings show their age, maasyos at malinis naman. I was surprised na ganun ang itsura ng T1 considering kung gaano ka-exaggerated manglait ang mga kababayan natin. I was pleasantly surprised. lol. :lol:
Hindi kasi nila nirerecognized ang mga efforts of renovationg ng MIAA lalo pag na full blast na yan... unti unti nilang tinatapos lahat ng dpat ayusin sa NAIA 1... ngayun nirerenovate ang CR sa departure lobby... I'm sure susunot na yung sa transits then sa gates na after.

^ Ayun nga eh, kung ibang airport ang dinedescribe, kulang na lang sambahin yung foreign airport. Samantala yung sa atin, hindi man lang bigyan ng konting pangunawa (considering 30 year plus na ang t1), tapos puro paninira pa ang sasabihin. We are really our own worst enemy. lol. :lol:

I myself has no issues with NAIA T1. I've been to Changi, Suvarnabhumi, Dubai, and Doha airports. Compared to these airports which are huge and modern, (except for Doha which is comparable to NAIA T2 size-wise) NAIA T1 isn't as bad as most people think. It is small and old but considering most passenger's needs, T1 is a functioning airport.

I never had any issues with immigraiton, baggage, and customs. Of course, lines would be long especially with multiple flight arriving one after the other but it's understandable. I even had worse "queuing" experience in Bangkok and NAIA T2.

The only thing that bothers me in T1 is the weird smell. It could be because the place is old but there was this faint smell similar to a public market... :nuts: But with the current renovations and improvements, this should be all gone. ^^

I myself has no issues with NAIA T1. I've been to Changi, Suvarnabhumi, Dubai, and Doha airports. Compared to these airports which are huge and modern, (except for Doha which is comparable to NAIA T2 size-wise) NAIA T1 isn't as bad as most people think. It is small and old but considering most passenger's needs, T1 is a functioning airport.

I never had any issues with immigraiton, baggage, and customs. Of course, lines would be long especially with multiple flight arriving one after the other but it's understandable. I even had worse "queuing" experience in Bangkok and NAIA T2.

The only thing that bothers me in T1 is the weird smell. It could be because the place is old but there was this faint smell similar to a public market... :nuts: But with the current renovations and improvements, this should be all gone. ^^

in my 18 years of flying in and out of PH thru NAIA T1 wala naman akong nae-encounter na problema...everything runs smoothly. bakit kaya ung iba ang daming reklamo? tama si amras, NAIA T1 is a functioning airport.

^^Benchmark kasi ay mga modern airlines sa Asia. Tignan nyo naman mga katabi natin: Suvarnhawhatever, Changi, Incheon, KLIA, Beijing Capital. Many are award-winners so kapag kinompare talaga NAIA, olats.

^ Benchmark ka dyan. Ang importante eh functioning, clean, efficient yung t1. You are comparing an airport built more than 30 years ago to those built less than 10 years. Be fair. And kung usefulness lang paguusapan, t1 is way ahead. t1 is handling passengers several times its designed capacity. So kung tutuusin, yung investment ng Pilipinas sa t1 has been repaid many times over. In my book, t1 is not a loser, it is a winning investment by the Filipinos.

=============

Wala akong objections though kung gagawa ng ultra modern terminal within or near Metro Manila. :D

^^Benchmark kasi ay mga modern airlines sa Asia. Tignan nyo naman mga katabi natin: Suvarnhawhatever, Changi, Incheon, KLIA, Beijing Capital. Many are award-winners so kapag kinompare talaga NAIA, olats.

you should also benchmark NAIA with those of Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Jakarta, Papua New Guinea, etc. hindi yung puro sa mga bagong airports lang.

What should be benchmarked are airport terminals that cost USD650 million in base dollars for a certain year. Then compare the amenities that came with it, including the technology. Disclaimer...terminals only, not the whole airport project. So you will end up comparing newer terminals like those in JFK (Terminals 4 and 5), EWR Terminal C, Changi Terminal 3, BCIA Terminal 3, DEL Terminal 3, etc. although many of them were built with higher budgets. In the region, I think the newly renovated BKI Terminal 1 would be a good comparison.

You get what you pay for. More money spent for bigger terminals, more traffic that can be accommodated as well plus all those amenities and features. All for the betterment of the travel experience.

NAIA has a great location (very near the CBD), but unfortunately ingress and egress of the airport is very poor, even for those with private transport. It's not just about what's in the terminal itself, but what it also connects to.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/erwinjansen/IMAG0003.jpg

NAIA T2, baggage claiming area

^^Benchmark kasi ay mga modern airlines sa Asia. Tignan nyo naman mga katabi natin: Suvarnhawhatever, Changi, Incheon, KLIA, Beijing Capital. Many are award-winners so kapag kinompare talaga NAIA, olats.

and the hefty 750 peso fee they get from each of you only goes to repairs, remodeling, fixing and cleaning some rough edges here and there instead of building a new ultra modern terminal.. enough of justifying the functionality of this old terminal..

[QUOTE=chrismartin;68882037]Kaalis ko lang last week at sa NAIA Terminal 1 din ako umalis. Masyadong exaggerated ang mga posts at media natin. Maayos at orderly naman yung pila sa immigration (mabilis naman akong nakalusot considering busy hours ako umalis) at malinis yung T1. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napakahilig natin laiitin ang sariling atin.. Eto yung pics ko..

NAIA T1 Lobby
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/chrismartin02/NAIA%202010/9f4b802d.jpg


Yeah, I usually passed at NAIA 1 twice a year for the past 5 years and the CR is actually not elegant but I never experienced na madumi un CR.
Minsan exaggerated na rin masyado un mga kababayan natin. By the way , I really love the ceiling at the lobby of NAIA 1 compared to terminal 3. parang lobby cya ng five star hotel.Sana lagyan ng cladding un mga beams and columns sa lobby.


Ganda ng lobby ng T1, para kang papasok sa isang malaking hotel.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/erwinjansen/IMAG0003.jpg

NAIA T2, baggage claiming area

Oooh...new FIDS. :okay:

Oooh...new FIDS. :okay:

Yup, prices ng flat panel TVs (kahit consumer or professional use) ay bumababa every year. So yeah, mas nagiging mandatory na rin siya pag lipas ng panahon

:)

^^Thanks for sharing this photo.
I also like the ceiling. Feels like an old 5-star hotel. :)



I think the bad thing about this arrival is with the yellow taxi driver. Upon boarding his car and telling where we'd go - he asked how much do I usually pay for this route. I said I pay whats in the meter. Proabably got plans of not using it. I said I need it. (for reimbursement) Then he goes: bahala na ho kayo, tatlong oras po akong pumila...etc.



Good for you. Actually WELL DONE!

This raised another question in my mind. Do you guys think that those metered taxi drivers wait 3 hours to get passengers in the departure area? Or they were just saying those as part of their tactics and they always get away with these? I would imagine the turn over is fast they didnt' really have to wait in line that long.

I personally just take NAIA taxi's the SUV/FX type (white and marked NAIA), it maybe a bit more expensive than the metered cabs but atleast you know that what you are paying is a legit price for your destination. Its cheaper for me that way instead of renting a car. I usually contract the same NAIA Taxi and driver on my departure date. I know you can call NAIA Taxi to come and get you but I believe you would still save extra if you just contracted that same driver for your return. It should not be illegal because he is not doing it on his logged in working hours, it's still his extra income and I'm thinking there is nothign wrong with that, they charge me the same right one way instead of paying two way one NAIA Taxi would come and get you on your departure date.

Sometimes some of our forummers here should not be mad at those who has not experienced anything bad in NAIA, they can't blame us because it would also be wrong if we lie and bad mouth NAIA. I understand that there are those who are unfortunate who are victimized or encountered incidents like those. It's hard not to react differently from these victims because we have not experienced anything just like myself who has been in and out of NAIA T1 more than 20 years.

:D

I also got skeptic about the turnover.

But I think he's being honest when he said he waited for 3 hrs. The right parking area of the terminal is full of yellow taxis. It's the same case for T3. According to him there are now 19 providers/operators for the yellow taxi line. They're the 12th.

Turnover should be quick since there are 5 widebodies arriving within the same time frame. But he claimed that passengers have their own transport to pick them up. Most airlines are coming from the middle east. So he must be right. There must be a bunch of relatives picking up their beloved OFW returnee using their own cars.

^ Well tough luck for that taxi driver but he shouldn't blame that on his passengers. Di rin rason yan para manghingi sya ng dagdag.. lol. :D

You are correct, maraming OFWs na may sumusundo na sa kanila sa airport. Can you blame them? With all the negative word of mouth and years of first hand account of horrors done by NAIA taxi drivers, minabuti na ng karamihan ng mga OFWs na magpasundo sa relatives. I myself was fortunate to be fetched by my father using our own car. Kahit na iritable yung father ko kasi madalas natatapat na madaling araw ang lapag ko sa NAIA t1.. hahahhaa.. :D

It would take years of consistent and honest service by NAIA taxi operators before they can regain the trust of our OFWs.. May mga magandang indikasyon naman recently, I praised them in the previous pages for the orderly line and honest billing that I experienced at t3. Sana yung mga naka-experienced ng ganun ay magpost din dito.. :D

Yeah, the taxi drivers shouldn't use that "bulok" excuse as if they were tricycle drivers. Everyone knows that the airport taxis have better parking than most other transport terminals, and that they work less hours compared to the regular taxi drivers. They probably even get paid a salary instead of boundary (for the bigger taxi companies).

Wow, 19 taxi companies? Is it that lucrative that you need that many operators? In the past there were problems because unscrupulous people with connections to those in power got all of the concessions for the taxi franchise. Now that it seems deregulated to a bit, do you really need that many? I say up to 10 is enough. Hmmm...probably even 5 is OK.

I personally would take the ordinary taxi going to the airport but will usually have to be picked up on the way back from the airport going home. The last thing you want after a long or stressful flight is a grouchy and scheming taxi driver (not to mention the sight of squatters along the roads near NAIA as soon as you leave the airport). It's like a "back to reality" check when one returns to Manila, even if just coming from the provinces. What more if from abroad, after an extended period of time?

Sometimes I pity the OFWs and balikbayans who are so "sabik" to get home, they'd do anything to avoid an argument with the taxi drivers (or haggle with fares). Which makes for a bad return home. It doesn't help that many taxi drivers really prey on their unsuspecting customers, but bear in mind this is not just limited to the Philippines (a driver in Saigon tried to dupe me into paying 200,000 dong for a fare that cost a little over half of what he demanded - I showed him how his scheme didn't work, and paid him only 120,000 dong). So the best way is to really have a meter, plus a receipt. It will be fair and you can be assured that they (taxis) are also paying taxes.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/erwinjansen/IMAG0003.jpg

NAIA T2, baggage claiming area
Wow! is it the reason why PAL resorted to placards because NAIA is planning to make all of them a new FIDS? This is a good improvement.

I personally just take NAIA taxi's the SUV/FX type (white and marked NAIA), it maybe a bit more expensive than the metered cabs but atleast you know that what you are paying is a legit price for your destination. Its cheaper for me that way instead of renting a car.

This is what I do as well. I've almost given up working with the regular cabs, especially if I just came out of a long haul flight while not exactly being in the most accommodating of moods and just want to head straight to the hotel and rest. I'm willing to pay a premium for the NAIA taxis than to have to work with the stress while jetlagged.

It doesn't help that many taxi drivers really prey on their unsuspecting customers, but bear in mind this is not just limited to the Philippines (a driver in Saigon tried to dupe me into paying 200,000 dong for a fare that cost a little over half of what he demanded - I showed him how his scheme didn't work, and paid him only 120,000 dong).

Indeed my share of taxi driver grief isn't limited to just the Philippines itself. IME, the worst I've had to work with was in Istanbul. By the time I finished my trip there, I just resorted to hiring a hotel car to take me to the airport. A truly beautiful and exotic city, but man it was a total crapshoot for me to dodge scheming taxi drivers.

For legacy carriers, try Thai Airways (TG). You'll get to DEL with just one stopover.

For LCCs, try a combination of AirAsia (9K) and AirAsia X (D7), also one stop with about an hour and a half of connecting time.

:ohno: why not take philippine airlines. they fly to new delhi starting march 27, 2011

^^ MNL-(BKK)-DEL is not yet bookable on PR despite having been loaded in the GDS. Besides, non-stops are usually more expensive than direct flights with connections.

:D

I also got skeptic about the turnover.

But I think he's being honest when he said he waited for 3 hrs. The right parking area of the terminal is full of yellow taxis. It's the same case for T3. According to him there are now 19 providers/operators for the yellow taxi line. They're the 12th.

Turnover should be quick since there are 5 widebodies arriving within the same time frame. But he claimed that passengers have their own transport to pick them up. Most airlines are coming from the middle east. So he must be right. There must be a bunch of relatives picking up their beloved OFW returnee using their own cars.There's just too much cab operators! 19, WTF?! Di pa kasama diyan ang informal operators. And they're only serving one place! Our regulatory offices are really good in regulating the industry! :ohno::ohno::bash:

I'm thinking some of these operators have very few units, some would have 3 to 4 taxi's I think, they just wanted to get tapped with airport passengers because it is a bigger market for them and that their drivers don't have to roam around the city to pick up passengers. Atleast, with airport or airline passengers, their routes or destination is predictable unlike passengers you pick up on the streets. I could of swear I heard these from a taxi operators in NAIA. So, if some of them do only have smaller units, then, I can see why there are 19 operators.

Guys I saw the news earlier, a 747 by Delta Airlines made an emergency landing at NAIA. Any idea why?

Guys I saw the news earlier, a 747 by Delta Airlines made an emergency landing at NAIA. Any idea why?

Here's what was dug up:

Delta flight to Detroit encounters technical problems, returns to NAIA (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/293809/delta-flight-detroit-encounters-technical-problems-returns-naia)
By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO
December 19, 2010, 6:07pm

MANILA, Philippines – A Delta Airlines Boeing 747 flying to Detroit made an emergency landing in Manila Sunday due to the mid-air technical problems encountered by the aircraft, forcing it to return to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Delta Airlines Flight DL 630 was on its way to Nagoya, Japan, but landed back on NAIA's Runaway 06-24 nearly an hour after it took off from Manila at 6:40 a.m.

Carrying more than 300 passengers and crew members on board, the aircraft was flying over Philippine airspace when technical problems developed in the plane.

Before 7:30 a.m., the Manila Control Tower received a distress call radio message from the pilot of the aircraft, requesting emergency status and asked for permission to land at the NAIA.

The request to land was immediately granted with the airport’s medical and Fire and Rescue teams dispatched alongside the runway to wait for the flight’s arrival.

Passengers were deplaned safely and accommodated on the next flight. No one was hurt.

Though the crew was lauded for a safe landing, the emergency landing caused some airline schedules to go haywire, to the discomfort and dismay of some passengers.

One irate passenger complained that they have been stranded for hours at Gate 10 of NAIA Terminal 1.

“We have been waiting for our flight for how many hours. They said they will fix things up quickly. But that was not the case,” the passenger said.

That's unfortunate.

The passenger should have been thankful that the plane landed safely. Personal discomfort is nothing compared with the safety of the people on-board. I wonder how the passengers were accomodated for the next flight (via NRT). It's usually fully booked.

But 1 hr of flight? It could have reached Taiwan already. Almost.

Airlines should be upfront with the passengers regarding delays. Then the passengers can make plans such as food etc.

^^
Here's what was dug up:

Delta flight to Detroit encounters technical problems, returns to NAIA (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/293809/delta-flight-detroit-encounters-technical-problems-returns-naia)



We were up in the air at that time holding for an hour. Our flight time was supposed to be 1:15 only. And the pilot just said that there were heavy traffic from down under. With that time, we could have reach Hongkong. But from the window, you would see other airlines circling with you and you know that something is going wrong. Based on my count, there were seven of us up there. Unfortunately, I can't see what is on the other window, so its possible there could be more.

Upon landing I was even surprised to see Delta tail in the afternoon. Stranged as it was, it never crossed my mind that they were the culprit. I was greeted by the news at ANC that they just did an emergency landing. No reason was forwarded.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing in your opinion arianspace? I'd be shocked for sure but that is probably why the captain didn't announce anything, similar with USAirways incident down at Hudson River in NYC, there was no announcements what-so-ever, the only thing they heard from the captain was "braise for impact" and the FA commenced an emergency procedure before getting back to their seat to prepare themselves. The Capt of DL must have not announced anything because he was confident he can land the aircraft safely back in NAIA so he didn't want to cause panic, especially on those with heart ailments. SCARY!!!

Breaking News from www.inquirer.net

Embattled Civil Aviation Authority Director General Alfonso Cusi quits amid mounting pressure from Aquino government, public dispute over reshuffling at agency.

^^ bad news and goodbye to the parallel runway in 06-24.

Breaking News from www.inquirer.net (http://www.inquirer.net)

Embattled Civil Aviation Authority Director General Alfonso Cusi quits amid mounting pressure from Aquino government, public dispute over reshuffling at agency.


for me this is a bad news. i hope this won't revert us to square one in our efforts to regain cat 1 status.

^^ Cusi quits as CAAP head (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=641535&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

(The Philippine Star)
Updated December 22, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Alfonso Cusi has resigned as director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

President Aquino has named Ramon Gutierrez acting director general in his place.

However, Aquino said he has not yet signed the appointment papers of Gutierrez.

“We want to fast-track all of the problems that CAAP is supposed to be handling, among them the downgrade and the EU (European Union) blacklisting,” Aquino said.

“There are many things that are detrimental – to get from one place to the other in this country they have to go to a third country. That has to be handled, especially at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 1.”

In his letter to Aquino dated Dec. 20, 2010, Cusi, who has a fixed term ending March 2014, said the circumstances of his appointment have been politicized and that doubts have been cast on his integrity and management competence.

“His Excellency will agree that RA 9497 (creation of the CAAP) was promulgated to professionalize CAAP and His Excellency would also agree that this manner of politicizing a key government agency or any agency for that matter has no place in this administration; this goes against all your public declaration of proper governance,” read the letter.

“In spite of my four-year legal term, I submit my resignation for the sake of the CAAP organization, the aviation industry and ultimately the country.

“This will give Your Excellency a free hand to choose a new director general who will continue to carry out the needed reforms in the Philippine civil aviation industry and to whom the administration can give its full trust and confidence.”

Cusi took over the CAAP’s helm on March 3, 2010, a few months before then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stepped down.

Gutierrez is a retired Air Force colonel who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy. - Rudy Santos, Aurea Calica, Rainier Allan Ronda

^^ That's an honoroble thing to do with so much pressure on him to get back our aviation authority to Cat 1. And hopefully, Ret. Col. Gutierrez with his knowledge on aviation will make some drastic reforms to elevate the aviation industry and remove the downgrade rating.

^^ bad news and goodbye to the parallel runway in 06-24.

What do you mean?

What do you mean?

Cusi plans to convert taxiway 06-24 into a parallel runway and realigning runway 06-24 so that it would move further south of Taxiway 06-24 yon yong sabi dati sa news..

Cusi plans to convert taxiway 06-24 into a parallel runway and realigning runway 06-24 so that it would move further south of Taxiway 06-24 yon yong sabi dati sa news..

oh, i forgot about that. Maybe they would still continue with that because it sounded like it is really needed, especially if T2 would expand towards the old Nayong Filipino.

I read a news report confirming that Cathay Pacific and ANA want to move into T3. sec. De Jesus says that can be done as long as it does not disrupt civil works that are to be completed by the Japanese Contractor.

^^ I believe ANA will be the first international airline to use NAIA-3. KE will be moving in June 2011, while everyone else should be moving by the end of next year. At least that's what current rumors are saying.

^^ Yup those are the rumours though of course there was that ex-aviation official who said it was CX who wanted to move to T3 subject to a lounge of their own.

it's really time to move in to NAIA T3.....

AIA 3: Old promises, new promises

By Lala Rimando, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/22/2010 7:49 PM | Updated as of 12/22/2010 9:04 PM


MANILA, Philippines – After operating at half its capacity for over 2 years, the country’s largest and newest international airport terminal will be fully operational by December 2011.

This was the promise of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose "Ping" de Jesus during a press conference on Tuesday when the issue of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) was discussed.

“About this time this year, we hope we will be able to see that airport fully operational,” he said during a briefing.

NAIA-3 has been marred by legal, financial, structural and safety issues after the Arroyo government nullified the build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract with private concessionaire Philippine International Air Terminals Corporation (PIATCO) in 2002.

It had been mothballed for 6 years until the Arroyo government, through the expropriation court, commenced commercial operations in July 2008.

Only 55% of the 4-storey one-kilometer-long NAIA-3 has been open for business with local budget carriers Cebu Pacific and AirPhil Express and several food businesses as lessors.

The other portions need to be repaired and retrofitted, while some equipment need to be replaced, since they currently do not meet international building and aviation safety standards.

100% operational

The NAIA-3 has been an infrastructure project of many promises.

It was supposed to be Asia’s most modern airport terminal had it opened as scheduled on December 2002.

After standing idle in the country’s main gateway for years—amid cramped and overcrowded adjacent NAIA-1 and NAIA-2 terminals, and the Domestic Terminal nearby—the Arroyo government also made several promises to open it.

After several promised opening dates—with December, March or June as usual target months—the Arroyo government finally opened it in July 2008 amid opposition from legal teams working on arbitration cases filed against the government in Washington and Singapore courts.

Even President Benigno Aquino III made a promise to “open” NAIA-3 in August, months after he assumed office.

His target date was end-2010.

Structural, safety issues

While the legal issues clouded efforts of the government to assert control over the building terminal, the structural issues and problems persisted.

Portions of the terminal's ceiling fell three times.

The facility consists of 10 separate buildings that are supposed to withstand the country’s humid environment and earthquakes that regularly hit the country.

Negotiations between the Arroyo government and Takenaka, the Japanese firm tasked as the general contractor by PIATCO, failed to reach productive levels.

Talks with Takenaka started way back in 2004.

When the Aquino administration took over, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) had entered into contracts with individual equipment suppliers and sub-contractors.

During the hearings and documentary submissions at the international tribunals that heard the NAIA-3 case, it was determined that some of the sub-contracts with the suppliers and subcontractors were not above board.

“When we took over in July, we put on hold all pending contracts to allow us a chance to review,” De Jesus said during the press conference held on Tuesday (Dec. 21).

His office considered the contracts with the NAIA-3 subcontractors and suppliers--and those entered into by other agencies--as “midnight contracts” since they were entered into a few months before the Arroyo government bowed out of power.

De Jesus told abs-cbnNEWS.com that after their review, they decided to “put on hold”—not exactly cancel— the contracts related to NAIA-3.

These 18 contracts amounted to around P2.3 billion.

Takenaka

Instead of forging stand-alone contracts with the subcontractors and suppliers, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is returning to the negotiating table with Takenaka.

The goal is to find a general contractor—which could be Takenaka if a deal is sealed—who will then commission other subcontractors to finish the remaining unused—and unsafe—portions of NAIA-3.

As a general contractor—the original role of Takenaka with PIATCO in 1998 to 2002—the Japanese firm would be solely responsible for ensuring that 100% of the NAIA-3 facility is safe.

De Jesus said the contracts MIAA had previously sealed with the subcontractors “may be subsumed under the Takenaka contract.”

“We are in discussions with Takenaka for the completion, testing and commissioning of the airport [terminal],” said De Jesus.

The choice of pursuing talks with Takenaka was “the approach that will fast-track the full operational decision of NAIA-3,” De Jesus added.

NAIA-3 has an integrated system where all the aviation and passenger activities are controlled by just one operator.

The control of the various airport systems-–from the baggage, flight information, telecommunications, flight information display, even the air conditioning—are handled by a central control room.

The codes for these systems are with Takenaka.

Lower cost

Since Takenaka has possession of the codes and intimate knowledge of the NAIA-3 build plans, the learning curve should be less compared to other general contractors.

A deal with Takenaka should also translate to lesser repair and replacement expenses for the Aquino government.

“You could run it [NAIA-3] with separate systems but it will be quite expensive and inefficient. We are holding all of these [stand-alone contracts] because they will be incorporated into the contract that we will be negotiating with Takenaka, expectedly, at a much lower cost,” De Jesus added.

“Our preliminary discussions with them [Takenaka] is very positive, and they’ve been very cooperative. Discussions are made frankly, with trust and fair[ness],” Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso told abs-cbnNEWS.com

Mutually beneficial

It may also be in Takenaka’s interest to pursue a deal with the Aquino government.

It has a pending uncollected sum from PIATCO, representing construction works rendered during the tail end of the 2002 target opening.

Takenaka won in a London-based international tribunal that it has the right to collect some hundreds of millions of [US] dollars worth of construction services from PIATCO, a consortium of Filipino and German firms.

However, Takenaka still needs to have a local court to enforce the collection case.

PIATCO recently lost its $565 million compensation claim against the Philippine government in an international tribunal, but it is still entitled to “just compensation” from the government, which unilaterally cancelled their contract.

The determination of “just compensation” is currently in the hands of the Philippines' Solicitor General.

Takenaka may just have a piece of that compensation.

Meantime, there’s a December 2011 deadline to meet.

^^^^^^

ano ba talaga... put on hold o cancelled ang mga project with takenaka? sabi sa iba kinansela e sabi naman dito hindi... :nuts:

^^ Kunin na yung source code sa Takenaka :nuts:

^^ Kunin na yung source code sa Takenaka :nuts:

shempre ayaw ibigay ng takenaka unless sila pa rin ang magtatapos sa contract.

Got this from Newsbreak. (Kasama na din ang pag promote ng libro nila. :lol:)

The You Tube video shows some areas of T3 still not in use and those needing repairs.


Will NAIA 3’s Past Sins make Clark the Primary Airport? (http://www.newsbreak.ph/2010/12/20/will-naia-3%E2%80%99s-past-sins-make-clark-the-primary-airport/)

DBTIXWH95fo

Got this from Newsbreak. (Kasama na din ang pag promote ng libro nila. :lol:)

The You Tube video shows some areas of T3 still not in use and those needing repairs.


Will NAIA 3’s Past Sins make Clark the Primary Airport? (http://www.newsbreak.ph/2010/12/20/will-naia-3%E2%80%99s-past-sins-make-clark-the-primary-airport/)

DBTIXWH95fo

Just finish that DMIA already so we can all move on to the next philippines' gateway int'l airport. NAIA is doomed, no more hope to expand it anyway, its just too crowded and surrounded with crouching residents.

^^ Yup those are the rumours though of course there was that ex-aviation official who said it was CX who wanted to move to T3 subject to a lounge of their own.

That was the story a while back. When CX officials toured T3 they discovered the facilities for lounges did not even exist. Usually new terminals have spaces dedicated for lounges so the airline can decorate for their own use. Even plumbing and electrical were non-existant. They backed off then and supposedly are waiting for NAIA to rectify the situation.

Really, no provision for lounges? Then T3 remains an LCC terminal.

Really, no provision for lounges? Then T3 remains an LCC terminal.

I should clarify, there was space allotted for lounges but instead of planned spaces like walls with electrical and plumbing so the carriers had something to work with there was nothing of the sort. I would imagine that most terminals built the basic outline of a lounge then the carrier comes in and furnishes it the way they want.

^^ That's an honoroble thing to do with so much pressure on him to get back our aviation authority to Cat 1. And hopefully, Ret. Col. Gutierrez with his knowledge on aviation will make some drastic reforms to elevate the aviation industry and remove the downgrade rating.

We don't need another ex-military official running the country's top aviation body. Look where they helped bring us - Cat 2 and a blacklist. Cusi if I remember correctly is the first person that didn't have military background in quite some time to head the country's top aviation body.

NAIA 3 boarding gates 117-120

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/3a638954.jpg

Kwento lang: A couple of days ago I drove my balikbayan relative to T1 and I took the Skyway so dumaan kami sa T3 rotunda. When he saw the structure being constructed there, comment nya "What is that supposed to be??? It's an eyesore!"

Hopefully may pag-asa pang gumanda pang natapos construction.

Comfort room:
http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/53e07f8c.jpg

NAIA3

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/a86dec49.jpg

The plane I'm taking looks new

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/62f6f4f6.jpg

I should clarify, there was space allotted for lounges but instead of planned spaces like walls with electrical and plumbing so the carriers had something to work with there was nothing of the sort. I would imagine that most terminals built the basic outline of a lounge then the carrier comes in and furnishes it the way they want.

WOW what a dumb government we have... what a dumb system for contracting the construction of these 3rd world facilities that take forever to complete and with the taxpayers ending up paying a hefty premium (well above the budget) for a substandard, poorly designed, defective and UGLY gateway into the country. :bash:

Taking off

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/9f60ef1a.jpg

What Filipino airlines are considered LCCs? Just wondering. Thanks.

The plane I'm taking looks new

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/62f6f4f6.jpg

^^
LCC's in the Philippines are:

Airphil Express
Cebu Pacific
Spirit of Manila Airlines
Zest Airways

'yun lang alam ko. hihihi :)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/NAIA%20Updates/Photo0064.jpgA Capiz-style Christmas decor in the ceilings of NAIA Terminal 1.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2mrcps7.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/28h3p5u.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2yyxvg5.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/32zhyqu.jpg

We don't need another ex-military official running the country's top aviation body. Look where they helped bring us - Cat 2 and a blacklist. Cusi if I remember correctly is the first person that didn't have military background in quite some time to head the country's top aviation body.

If we are still in CAT 2 by the end of 2011, then I'll agree with you.

Cool photos @ lightning. Were those taken from T3?

^ one of the best photos of NAIA I've seen. well done! :)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/ianers_ianized/NAIA%20Updates/Photo0064.jpgA Capiz-style Christmas decor in the ceilings of NAIA Terminal 1.

Very simple but elegant. Very indigenously Filipino, too. It seems that among the photos posted by forumers here in SSC, NAIA (and the Philippine airports) is/are the only one/s that has/have Christmas decor, Ph Man posted some pictures of CDG but I didn't notice any decor somewhat. Well, lots of non-Christians pass through many international airports, so it's probably a non-sectarian thing.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2mrcps7.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/28h3p5u.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2yyxvg5.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/32zhyqu.jpg
Love the photos! Especially the one at the bottom, shows an interesting story.

Right, but what story do you have in mind? :)

That could be one of the occasions when all A330s are parked in T2. Well, before that one took off.

Right, but what story do you have in mind? :)

That could be one of the occasions when all A330s are parked in T2. Well, before that one took off.

A story like a lull in flight activity, just before every plane is loaded with fuel and passengers before they start flying off to destinations of yore. Well nowadays, airplane takeoffs and departures are scheduled pretty well with high tech software applications, so that they can avoid cramming all of them together at the terminal.

BTW in the last pic we can see at least 5 PAL widebodies (can't determine if the 6th tail is an A320 as the fuselage is blocked from view). Probably if this were a panoramic shot even the 77W at the far end of the terminal would be included.:)

Yeah, I like these photos. Must have been taken either from T3 roofdeck or one of Newport's lowrises.

Haven't noticed the 77W. When PAL decides to add 2 more of these, then T2 needs to be extended up to the Nayong Pilipino site.

Yeah, I like these photos. Must have been taken either from T3 roofdeck or one of Newport's lowrises.

Haven't noticed the 77W. When PAL decides to add 2 more of these, then T2 needs to be extended up to the Nayong Pilipino site.

I took the photos from the top level parking area of Resorts World, accidentally discovered the view when I was meeting a friend there. The distance is quite far that I had to go back the next day, and brought my zoom 200mm lens.

http://i55.tinypic.com/1zn4myu.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/rjfr6t.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/9avkeo.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ij3hqq.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ij3hqq.jpg


Multilayered ramps...parang sa Japan ah.:nuts:

wow that's different! nice shots from a nice location..I can certainly appreciate T3 complex even more from those shots.

any more :D heheh

a belen in NAIA 3 (Dec 23)

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/belen2.jpg

more from NAIA 3

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231108_1.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231106_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231100_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231099_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231113_2.jpg

I took the photos from the top level parking area of Resorts World, accidentally discovered the view when I was meeting a friend there. The distance is quite far that I had to go back the next day, and brought my zoom 200mm lens.

http://i55.tinypic.com/1zn4myu.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/rjfr6t.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/9avkeo.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ij3hqq.jpg

Wow, nice shots.. :D

I like the Christmas décor of T3.

Multilayered ramps...parang sa Japan ah.:nuts:

this is really a nice shot. akala ko sa japan nga.

Multilayered ramps...parang sa Japan ah.:nuts:

is that parking sturcuture still safe?? its been 2 years now, and we havent got to use that facility yet :bash::bash::bash:

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ij3hqq.jpg


open this damn thing already! its been 2 years already!!
:ohno:

http://i51.tinypic.com/2mrcps7.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/28h3p5u.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2yyxvg5.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/32zhyqu.jpg

Fantastic shots Lightning ! Thanks for sharing the best images of NAIA in a long time. Merry Xmas to you.

@lightning099

Please upload your photos at www.airliners.net

^^Those shots are very good!:)

^^Nice shots.. the best! :D

So, from what this picture suggested, that shorter runway between T2 and T3 is still being use for aircrafts like A320/19 and that smaller aircraft like Zest Air in this pictures, contrary to what my first impression before that only one runway is strictly being utilized in NAIA.

Taking off

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/9f60ef1a.jpg

I took the photos from the top level parking area of Resorts World, accidentally discovered the view when I was meeting a friend there. The distance is quite far that I had to go back the next day, and brought my zoom 200mm lens.

http://i55.tinypic.com/1zn4myu.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/9avkeo.jpg

Yeah, I like these photos. Must have been taken either from T3 roofdeck or one of Newport's lowrises.

Haven't noticed the 77W. When PAL decides to add 2 more of these, then T2 needs to be extended up to the Nayong Pilipino site.

Yeah, that's a possibility. Unless PAL decides to reduce their A320s and pass these on to Airphilexpress, and then PAL parks an A330 at the end of the domestic section which connects with the international wing (forgot the gate number).

But come 2014, when PAL would have 4 77Ws, I would think that they would use their scheduling application to have the widebodies stay at the gates for fewer hours, or probably even permanently base an A330 in CEB or CRK, if they decide to expand there.

I know PAL has plans of retiring the A340s within the next 5 or so years, but if they will replace these with other widebodies remains to be seen.

The 77W is found in the picture below, far right.
http://i51.tinypic.com/2mrcps7.jpg


So, from what this picture suggested, that shorter runway between T2 and T3 is still being use for aircrafts like A320/19 and that smaller aircraft like Zest Air in this pictures, contrary to what my first impression before that only one runway is strictly being utilized in NAIA.

Runway 13/31 (2,258 meters) can only accommodate A320s and smaller planes for takeoff, not the A330-300s that PAL has (they require at least 2,500 meters for takeoff). Cebu Pacific and the others (sometimes even PAL) would usually take off from Runway 13/31 because it saves them fuel and time compared to if they were to taxi to the end of Runway 6/24. I'm guessing that easily more than half of Cebu Pacific flights will take off from 13/31 as long as the wind direction allows this.

^^when I flew to TPE last sept, we used runway 13/31 for take-off.

more NAIA 3

tail number RP-C3246
http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231114_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231110_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/NAIA.jpg

Nice shots people! Keep 'em coming! :cheers:

Runway 13/31 (2,258 meters) can only accommodate A320s and smaller planes for takeoff, not the A330-300s that PAL has (they require at least 2,500 meters for takeoff). Cebu Pacific and the others (sometimes even PAL) would usually take off from Runway 13/31 because it saves them fuel and time compared to if they were to taxi to the end of Runway 6/24. I'm guessing that easily more than half of Cebu Pacific flights will take off from 13/31 as long as the wind direction allows this.[/QUOTE]

A couple of years ago a PAL flight we took from TAG to MNL landed on this runway. It was driving rain and the captain made it a special point that this was a difficult approach and we were to make sure all our electronic devices were off. It's the only time I have ever landed on that runway. We have taken off from it a few times. Maybe the main runway was closed?

more NAIA 3

tail number RP-C3246
http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231114_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231110_2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/NAIA.jpg


Bakit hindi na pinalilipad ng CEB ang kanila DC9 aircraft (below picture)? sayang naka standby lang

^^ Malakas sa aviation fuel?

Anyway: (I'm not promoting this po :D)

SM Kenko Spa at NAIA 3 (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=642869&publicationSubCategoryId=66)

(The Philippine Star)
Updated December 27, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6359/bus14hires.jpg
Source (http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6359/bus14hires.jpg)

MANILA, Philippines - SM Kenko Spa, the first authentic Japanese Health Spa in the country opens its newest branch at the 4th level of NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. SM Kenko Spa is also the first and only spa in the Philippines to have a branch inside NAIA T3.

Offering its signature spa treatments to harried travelers, in a place where stress levels are high, SM Kenko Spa is an excellent place to find solace and utmost relaxation. Departing passengers can enjoy stimulating massages while waiting for their flights, on the same note, passengers who have just arrived can refresh themselves with the services offered by the Spa before they leave the airport. Spa enthusiasts can also avail of the exclusive Sparomatherapy services of SM Kenko Spa’s main branch located at the 5th and 6th floor of Networld Hotel (Roxas Boulevard cor Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.,Pasay City) while enjoying the world-famous Manila Bay Sunset.

Experience SM Kenko’s world class amenities and services in its other branches located at the Terminal 1 & 3, Departure Area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. For inquiries, call (02) 846-71-93 (Terminal 3) or (02) 536-77-77 local 6 (main branch).

Bakit hindi na pinalilipad ng CEB ang kanila DC9 aircraft (below picture)? sayang naka standby lang

i think Cebu Pacific replaced it's DC9 fleet with A319/A320.

Bakit hindi na pinalilipad ng CEB ang kanila DC9 aircraft (below picture)? sayang naka standby lang

DC-9 Jet engines are Noisy and Gas Guzzlers.

The A319 Turbo Fan engines are quieter and very Fuel Efficient.

Bakit hindi na pinalilipad ng CEB ang kanila DC9 aircraft (below picture)? sayang naka standby lang

The DC9s have been phased out since 2006. They are already old (about 30 years), are noise category 2 aircraft, and are not fuel efficient. Plus the cost to maintain them is quite expensive.

You will also notice in the picture that there are even older planes (like the Lockheed Super Constellation and the DC3s and HS-748s) which have been there for ages. Makes you wonder why they don't cut them up for scrap metal (I remember the Super Connie was used in an ad many, many years ago).

Guys! thanks for some clarification, but let me ask once more hindi ba pede palitan ng engine ang isang eroplano?...sorry for my ignorance :)

The DC9s have been phased out since 2006. They are already old (about 30 years), are noise category 2 aircraft, and are not fuel efficient. Plus the cost to maintain them is quite expensive.

You will also notice in the picture that there are even older planes (like the Lockheed Super Constellation and the DC3s and HS-748s) which have been there for ages. Makes you wonder why they don't cut them up for scrap metal (I remember the Super Connie was used in an ad many, many years ago).

cebu pacific also have b-757s

Guys! thanks for some clarification, but let me ask once more hindi ba pede palitan ng engine ang isang eroplano?...sorry for my ignorance :)

Of course you can replace engines! That's why they have spares. You can even upgrade the older engines to noise category Stage 3 but they won't still be as fuel efficient as the newer engines.

cebu pacific also have b-757s

Cebu Pacific leased 2 757s back when they started international flights (HKG and SEL) in late 2001/early 2002. However these 757s were retired in 2006, replaced by the A320s.

Man, it take Japanese brand/firm to set up a spa business in an airport terminal in the Philippines when it can be started by pinoys. I'm guessing other pinoy spa owners would copy these.:ohno:

^^ Malakas sa aviation fuel?

Anyway: (I'm not promoting this po :D)

SM Kenko Spa at NAIA 3 (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=642869&publicationSubCategoryId=66)

(The Philippine Star)
Updated December 27, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6359/bus14hires.jpg
Source (http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6359/bus14hires.jpg)

MANILA, Philippines - SM Kenko Spa, the first authentic Japanese Health Spa in the country opens its newest branch at the 4th level of NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. SM Kenko Spa is also the first and only spa in the Philippines to have a branch inside NAIA T3.

Offering its signature spa treatments to harried travelers, in a place where stress levels are high, SM Kenko Spa is an excellent place to find solace and utmost relaxation. Departing passengers can enjoy stimulating massages while waiting for their flights, on the same note, passengers who have just arrived can refresh themselves with the services offered by the Spa before they leave the airport. Spa enthusiasts can also avail of the exclusive Sparomatherapy services of SM Kenko Spa’s main branch located at the 5th and 6th floor of Networld Hotel (Roxas Boulevard cor Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.,Pasay City) while enjoying the world-famous Manila Bay Sunset.

Experience SM Kenko’s world class amenities and services in its other branches located at the Terminal 1 & 3, Departure Area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. For inquiries, call (02) 846-71-93 (Terminal 3) or (02) 536-77-77 local 6 (main branch).

DC-9 Jet engines are Noisy and Gas Guzzlers.

The A319 Turbo Fan engines are quieter and very Fuel Efficient.


The DC9s have been phased out since 2006. They are already old (about 30 years), are noise category 2 aircraft, and are not fuel efficient. Plus the cost to maintain them is quite expensive.

You will also notice in the picture that there are even older planes (like the Lockheed Super Constellation and the DC3s and HS-748s) which have been there for ages. Makes you wonder why they don't cut them up for scrap metal (I remember the Super Connie was used in an ad many, many years ago).


These are both correct and the fact that it would be cost efficient for an LCC to operate brand new fleets of the same class. It saves on fuel, maintenance and crew training as opposed to multiple class fleets or combination of boeing and airbus.

Thank you all for the appreciation. A few more photos to share...

http://i52.tinypic.com/b4cbvq.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/ve3okj.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/ie3s7o.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/f08zlf.jpg

YOur photos are really nice lightning099

Thank you all for the appreciation. A few more photos to share...

http://i52.tinypic.com/b4cbvq.jpg



Ot uh, NAIA T2's roof is starting to fade.... Calling MIAA, maintenance please!!

Very suspicious circumstances surrounding the supposed "suicide"...:ohno: and to think he jumped over only 10 feet of stairs...

US Navy officer leaps to death at NAIA (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=643189&publicationSubCategoryId=65)
By Rudy Santos and Aie Balagtas See (The Philippine Star) Updated December 28, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (12)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3432/metfoto.jpg
Senior Superintendent Manuel Pintado (left) points to a spot where US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Scintar Mejia landed headfirst when he allegedly jumped from the top of the stairs leading to the Aviation Security Group’s office at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday. RUDY SANTOS

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino-American who was an active member of the United States Navy allegedly committed suicide by diving from the top of a 10-foot-high set of stairs and hitting the pavement headfirst at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday morning.

Lt. Cmdr. Scintar Buenviaje Mejia, 35, a naturalized citizen and resident of Los Angeles, California, arrived in the country last week for a visit and was about to return to the US on board a Philippine Airlines flight for Los Angeles at around 10 p.m., according to Senior Superintendent Manuel Pintado.

Pintado said according to initial reports he received, Mejia arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 at around 7:20 p.m. for his 10 p.m. flight. He cleared the metal detector and body frisking when he reportedly brought out a transparent plastic sachet from his hand-carried luggage and showed it to X-ray operator Jose Saul Villegas.

Mejia allegedly threw the sachet at Villegas, accusing him and other personnel that he was being set up for a crime. He reportedly became hysterical and started shouting at the security personnel around him, Pintado said.

Aviation policemen, headed by SPO1 Mateo Aguilas, arrived at the scene and pacified Mejia. Aguilas asked for a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) member to check the contents of the sachet as Mejia was brought to the Aviation Security Group (ASG) office for questioning.

PDEA agent Edwin Reed said the sachet contained .03 grams of a powdery substance that initial tests indicate as cocaine.

At around 5:30 a.m. yesterday, Mejia asked permission from Aguilas and SPO2 Roberto Figueras to use the restroom, which was occupied at the time.

Mejia allegedly insisted that he needed to urinate, and the policemen granted his request to do so outside the building. As he was escorted outside, Mejia reportedly ran towards the cement stairs, which is approximately 10 feet high, and dove towards the ground.

Policemen rushed him to the San Juan de Dios Hospital, where he died at around 6:45 a.m. while undergoing treatment.

Chief Inspector Raymund Liguden, Pasay City police investigation division head, said they will probe if there was foul play involved in Mejia’s death. The US Naval Criminal Investigative Service will conduct their own probe, Liguden told The STAR.

Thank you all for the appreciation. A few more photos to share...

http://i52.tinypic.com/b4cbvq.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/ve3okj.jpg



again, nice set. wind direction shifted quickly or were these photos taken at different times.

is RW roofdeck open to the public?

again, nice set. wind direction shifted quickly or were these photos taken at different times.

is RW roofdeck open to the public?

The plane landing was taken in the morning, the one rotating was taken after lunch. Photos were taken from the RW parking area.

nice, thanks for the response @ lightning.

How come a friend who just flew in back from the Philippines mentioned that he didn't see any renovation or changes in NAIA T1? He took United Airlines with connecting flight in HK via Cathy Pacific. Is it because, only one wing was being renovated yet or is it that there is really very little being done around it? I'm just curious.

I like the Christmas décor of T3.

more NAIA 3

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231110_2.jpg



T1 has a more Christmas feel and Filipino Christmas theme

i don't think i like those decorations so much; they look too Filipino and not world-class (which I don't mean in a bad way, but I feel public spaces should be neutral, ie, considerate to people who don't like the local taste or celebrate the local tradiations, blah blah :nuts:). I really feel like the government needs to outsource the management of the airport to a private company that is more experienced in operating public spaces, interior design, marketing, retail...

Are you kidding? That is one problem with the Philippines, the country is too westernized (at least the big cities). The reason talo tayo ng Thailand in terms of tourism is because they are proud of their heritage and culture, distinct architecture, traditional costumes etc. Yet, eto mga Pinoy, complaining about decorations being "too Filipino."

FYI, the reason why people travel is to experience non-tradition culture (outside of their own), why give people the same vanilla flavor? Lastly, people who are easily offended/intolerant by other cultures should stay at home!

If it was up to me, they should put up more Pampanga Parol!

i don't think i like those decorations so much; they look too Filipino and not world-class (which I don't mean in a bad way, but I feel public spaces should be neutral, ie, considerate to people who don't like the local taste or celebrate the local tradiations, blah blah :nuts:). I really feel like the government needs to outsource the management of the airport to a private company that is more experienced in operating public spaces, interior design, marketing, retail...

Are you kidding? That is one problem with the Philippines, the country is too westernized (at least the big cities). The reason talo tayo ng Thailand in terms of tourism is because they are proud of their heritage and culture, distinct architecture, traditional costumes etc. Yet, eto mga Pinoy, complaining about decorations being "too Filipino."

FYI, the reason why people travel is to experience non-tradition culture (outside of their own), why give people the same vanilla flavor? Lastly, people who are easily offended/intolerant by other cultures should stay at home!

If it was up to me, they should put up more Pampanga Parol!

:cheers:

I strongly AGREE with you even if I'm not particularly impressed with these locally themed decorations they came up with. Those capiz "chandeliers?" in Terminal I looked like they were stapled to the ceiling...lol. :nuts:

I think our culture (in this case the way we celebrate Christmas) could have been better represented and showcased in more creative and appealing ways than this.

The giant parols are a great idea and I think they already had that in past displays although the ones they picked weren't as spectacular as the genuine Pampanga lanterns that have gained some acclaim worldwide. That's certainly better than the so-called "world class" or in other terms "gaya-gaya putomaya" trying-hard generic displays we see in other airports in countries that don't even have a legit reason (other than commercial) to celebrate the season.

We should be proud of our own unique ways. It gives as Identity.

Are you kidding? That is one problem with the Philippines, the country is too westernized (at least the big cities). The reason talo tayo ng Thailand in terms of tourism is because they are proud of their heritage and culture, distinct architecture, traditional costumes etc. Yet, eto mga Pinoy, complaining about decorations being "too Filipino."

FYI, the reason why people travel is to experience non-tradition culture (outside of their own), why give people the same vanilla flavor? Lastly, people who are easily offended/intolerant by other cultures should stay at home!

If it was up to me, they should put up more Pampanga Parol!

Kasi, being Pinoy is having the pwede na yan mentality so it is reflected to our culture.

Somewhat, we do showcase the culture kahit walang taste basta pwede na yan. :lol:

^^ True but I still disagree with @azntxn. Looking too filipino should not be equated to being less class, what should of been said is what Askal also mentioned, this is to not settle with "puede na" mentality, which means, showcase the filipino ingenuity. Filipinos are too focus on copying anything foreign and alot of times, it does not suit our culture and way of life. It's just a matter of being very creative and not a big "copy cat" Why decorate the surrounding with snow flakes and such when the Philippines is a trophical country, why not something very filipino and modern at the same time, something that is really aesthetically pleasing.

i don't think i like those decorations so much; they look too Filipino and not world-class (which I don't mean in a bad way, but I feel public spaces should be neutral, ie, considerate to people who don't like the local taste or celebrate the local tradiations, blah blah :nuts:). I really feel like the government needs to outsource the management of the airport to a private company that is more experienced in operating public spaces, interior design, marketing, retail...

:ohno:....................thats exactly the mentallity many filipinos should abolish...shame..:ohno:

I don't really need to add more..you guys already said it.

more NAIA 3

tail number RP-C3246
http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/PC231110_2.jpg



I really can't appreciate the christmas decoration on here because of the bad angle which is very understandable because what kintoy was giving more emphasis on the terminal itself and not the deco.It doesn't look awerfully bad in my opinion. Anyway, it's New Year now and those Christmas decoration belongs to 2010, let's start a fresh year with something positive.

Happy New Year everyone! Just sharing some pics of NAIA 2 I took a couple months ago. The flight arrived early so this is the airport at around 4am. I think my camera just woke up too, sorry for the slightly blurry pics :nuts:

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7409/cimg3420x.jpg
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8897/cimg3429
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9126/cimg3427d.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5756/cimg3426.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6654/cimg3425z.jpg
http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/9558/cimg3418c.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6513/cimg3417.jpg

Landing in NAIA (Cebu Pac A320 from Zamboanga, this afternoon)

landing
iNxCbGnA2vg

taxiing
fB5Njyt5KDg

approaching the bridge
7g8Kqejt6EY

NAIA 3 Arrival

approaching arrival area from the jetbridge
cJ_EwEI-Xb8

arrival area
pMwyvfX04k0

from luggage area to exit
EWyr4o6xYvY

exit to taxi bays
sy5naryfbq0

NAIA 3 ramps

LWDBvMt8v_E

NAIA3 to Skyway

Db2xmPdGv-s

NAIA 3 apron, taxi bays, arrival areas, etc

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/a480e9c5.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/d1c8c4fa.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/ec9642a6.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/5d76abe4.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/2f15f7d1.jpg

There is nothing special or interesting about this boring airport and I'm surprised anyone would want to take pictures of it. What for?

I'm concerned about the billions of dollars the airport authorities/government
have stolen from passengers in 'terminal fees'.
Where has all this money gone? For that sort of money all passengers
should be enjoying business-class lounge standard of service at the airport.

There is nothing special or interesting about this boring airport and I'm surprised anyone would want to take pictures of it. What for?

I'm concerned about the billions of dollars the airport authorities/government
have stolen from passengers in 'terminal fees'.
Where has all this money gone? For that sort of money all passengers
should be enjoying business-class lounge standard of service at the airport.

:cheers:

There is nothing special or interesting about this boring airport and I'm surprised anyone would want to take pictures of it. What for?

I'm concerned about the billions of dollars the airport authorities/government
have stolen from passengers in 'terminal fees'.
Where has all this money gone? For that sort of money all passengers
should be enjoying business-class lounge standard of service at the airport.

What a troll. ;)

What a troll. ;)

He's got a point actually.

Nice job kintoy. ;)

He's got a point actually.

Nice job kintoy. ;)

Dittos. Compared to Changi, NAIA is not in the same league though a lot of money has and is being poured into it.

Dittos. Compared to Changi, NAIA is not in the same league though a lot of money has and is being poured into it.

I agree. But what's the use of those money being poured into NAIA if the people dont really feel it.

He's got a point actually.

Nice job kintoy. ;)

Just go to to other threads. (hint: jeepney and the malls thread) ;)

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/ec9642a6.jpg

wow! NAIA terminal looks more decent than some airports in canada!

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/d1c8c4fa.jpg

this could easily be spruced up to look like Changi though... paint and something nice to cover up the plain ceiling.

There is nothing special or interesting about this boring airport and I'm surprised anyone would want to take pictures of it. What for?

I'm concerned about the billions of dollars the airport authorities/government
have stolen from passengers in 'terminal fees'.
Where has all this money gone? For that sort of money all passengers
should be enjoying business-class lounge standard of service at the airport.

Just look at what he posted at Metro Manila Malls today. :ohno:

Aquino loses NAIA 3 case (http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110103hed1.html)

By Ninez Cacho-Olivares Editor-in-Chief
01/03/2011

President Aquino and his government uncorked the champagne too early while announcing that he and the government lawyers had won the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3 (NAIA-3) case filed by both German airport operator Fraport AG and Piatco (Philippine International Air Terminal Co.) against the Philippine government, to the point of even congratulating the Philippine lawyers, retired Justice Florentino Feliciano and then lawyer for the government, Lourdes Sereno, who he later appointed to the high court, as a reward for her winning the case for the government.

All told, the government lawyers charged the Philippine government a whopping $50 million, which was deemed excessive, and a waste of funds, after a final decision of an Ad Hoc Committee in Washington overturned the ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of

Investment Disputes, a World Bank Group) Tribunal’s decision in its totality.

Business leaders, international chambers of commerce, along with the European Union have been calling for a resolution to the long-pending NAIA-3 dispute, but all these calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Government sources who have a handle on the government case told the Tribune during the holidays that these calls went unheeded by both the Arroyo and Aquino governments as they listened to the recommendations of Justices Feliciano, Sereno and the foreign lawyers to keep continuing with the now known unfounded charges against Piatco and its officers to justify the continued lavish spending of the Philippine and American lawyers.

“They (lawyers) traveled first class, stayed in Five Star Hotels and dined in very expensive restaurants, so much so that their spending habits must have made President (Gloria) Arroyo look like a poor country cousin,” the government source said.

“Calls were already made for President Noynoy (Aquino) to investigate and stop these anomalous transactions of the government lawyers, but again, these calls were unheeded. In fact, he (Aquino) even rewarded (Justice) Sereno with a posting in the high court, as an associate justice, even praising her for her winning the case against Piatco and its partner,” the source added.

It was learned from the same sources that interest groups are set to file charges of plunder against the lawyers who represented the Philippine government in the case in their misuse and overprice for legal fees amounting to $50 million.

The Aquino government is expected to have more losses with more cases filed against it, which is likely to come after the findings of the committee.

The Ad Hoc Committee in Washington nullified the ICSID tribunal’s findings that Fraport and certain Piatco officials violated the anti-dummy law.

As a result of this final decision which is no longer appealable, all claims of the government related to its having won the ICSID case are false.

The Aquino government has no choice but to return the NAIA-3 to its rightful owner, Piatco, along with its foreign partner, Fraport, or compensate them for the facility on the full extent of the Germany company’s claims.

To keep stalling the return of the air terminal 3 to its owners, or refusing to pay for it, will further keep big ticket investors away from the Philippines, sources pointed out.

The 10-year old NAIA-3 problem has created negative sentiments and has eroded investor confidence from Germany and the European Union, which have been calling for a settlement to the row.

The refusal of government to pay Piatco compensation for expropriating NAIA-3 has caused a setback in diplomatic relations between Germany and the Philippines, and investments from Germany have been few and far between.

Foreign investments have trickled in very slowly, since the Arroyo government expropriated the NAIA-3 without, however, paying the owners compensation. This has reportedly made investors shy away from investing in the country, not knowing whether perfected contracts are to be voided by the Philippine government.

An industry source told the Tribune that with this final decision, the Aquino government had better go slow on even exercising ownership rights in relation to the running of the NAIA-3, which was earlier expropriated by the Arroyo government without, however, paying the owners, Piatco and its German partner, Fraport, any compensation, dragging the row between government and Piatco for at least three years.

“They (Aquino administration) can even be taken to the cleaners, not just for exercising ownership rites, but also for defying the Philippine Supreme Court that already ruled that the government is barred from exercising ownership rights. This means that the government is not allowed to forge contracts for airport space with concessionaires and airline offices.

“It would be more sensible for government to stop the legal battle and settle the NAIA-3 problem. Government loses out anyway and even more, as it would keep on paying legal fees—with its lawyers making more money.”

Industry sources also said that the bottomline is that while the government continues to find fault with the NAIA-3 as constructed, it is also the same government that has been enjoying the use of the facility for at least three years without paying Piatco for its use and the business community and probable foreign investors are hardly going to trust the government with their investments, despite (Aquino’s) claims that under his new government, investors confidence and trust are on the uptick.

The truth is, President Aquino has been violating the law with impunity, they pointed out, since the SC had ruled that the government cannot exercise any acts of ownership. Despite this ruling, the Aquino government has leased out the concessions and has operated the airport facility with impunity, in clear violation of the high court’s ruling.

It was also pointed out that even Cebu Pacific which is using the NAIA-3 terminal for its flights, has benefited immensely from the government’s move to allow the airline the use of the facility. It was partly due to this benefit that allowed Cebu Pacific to increase its market share against Philippine Airlines (PAL).

There were also earlier reports that the Gokongweis were interested in acquiring and operating NAIA-3, despite the clear SC ruling, and to the detriment of the NAIA-3 owners, who have not been compensated by government.

“This is really the concern of investors and businessmen,” Tribune sources said. “The government appears to do what it wants, and changes the rules—not just midstream but even after the project is completed. The government is also known to defy the Supreme Court, thus violating the law instead of upholding it.

“Such a behavior has caused deep concerns for investors coming to the country, which they see as a high risk venture. Government calls on you to invest, and after investors sink in their money, government revokes the contract and does not even pay compensation for expropriating the project.”

Aquino, just a month into the presidency, announced, in a state of the nation athat he was no longer going to honor the contract with a Belgian contractor for the Laguna Lake dredging, which may again cause concerns among probable investors.

The World Bank reversal may also mean problems for the contracts that are already on the pipeline for the improvement of NAIA-3.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus had earlier listed projects supposedly to fast-track the full operation of NAIA-3 at a lower total cost of civil works and equipment citing government negotiations with Japanese contractor Takenaka to complete the unfinished work at the NAIA 3. Takenaka is the Japanese contractor of the NAIA 3.

In 2007, the Washington-based ICSID junked the claim of compensation by Fraport AG, Piatco’s German partner. NAIA 3 opened in 2008 after six years of being idle caused by a clash among the parties that put up the facility. The airport terminal was an unsolicited build-operate-transfer project undertaken by Asian Emerging Dragon Corp., a group of Chinese magnates, in 1994, before being awarded to the Piatco-Fraport consortium.

boo. it's just a stupid airport. and an unelegant one at that.

better than what you have in portland

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/ec9642a6.jpg
Hopefully they can clad or paint these columns for a neater look.

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab335/kin_toy/ec9642a6.jpg
Hopefully they can clad or paint these columns for a neater look.

agree...the najed columns are ruining the place

Now that ICSID has reversed its earlier 2007 decision, back to square one na naman ba ang NAIA 3 saga?

Fraport wins NAIA 3 appeal (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/03/11/philippine-govt-loses-naia-3-appeal)

By Lala Rimando, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 01/03/2011 6:17 PM
Updated as of 01/03/2011 7:31 PM

MANILA, Philippines – An international tribunal has favored German firm Fraport AG in a case involving its reimbursement claim for its $425-million investment in NAIA-3, an international airport terminal facility in Manila.

According to the website of Washington-based International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the decision was handed out last December 23, 2010.

According to abs-cbnNEWS.com sources intimately familiar with the case, the new decision favored Fraport which asked for the annulment of a previous ICSID decision that set aside Fraport’s $425 million claim from the Philippine government.

This brings the case back to square one.

This could also mean another legal setback to the Aquino government, which has been raring to fully operate the airport terminal to improve airport services in the country’s main gateway.

Solving NAIA 3’s many problems was one of the priorities of President Benigno Aquino III and his economic team who have vowed to show they can get their act together as they woo foreign investors to participate in funding and building key infrastructure projects.

Square one

Fraport AG Frankfurt Services Worldwide may opt to sue the Philippine government one more time at ICSID, a World Bank arm based in Washington DC that serves as an impartial forum for disputes between foreign investors and their host countries.

Fraport, a leading airport operator from Germany, filed a case with ICSID in September 2003 to seek protection for its investments in NAIA-3 citing the bilateral investment treaty between Germany and the Philippines. It said it had already spent $425 million in equity and shareholder loans.

The Philippine government unilaterally cancelled the contract it awarded in 1997 to Philippine International Airport Terminal Co. (Piatco), the consortium where Fraport, the foreign partner, has a 30% stake. A month after, in May 2003, the Supreme Court upheld the contract cancellation, citing irregularities in the contract amendments, among others.

The latest ICSID decision overturns the August 2007 decision by another set of arbitrators who had favored the Philippine government then.

The original set of arbitrators – composed of 3 individuals from Canada, Spain and US – had ruled that ICSID has no jurisdiction over the case since Fraport was found to have violated Philippine laws that limit foreign ownership and control of a facility like an airport terminal.

In a strongly worded decision, the arbitrators then wrote, “An investor that contravenes the law of the Host State of the investment must expect to suffer the consequences prescribed by law."

However, Fraport questioned that 2007 decision and asked the tribunal for a second set of arbitrators – an ad hoc committee – to review and annul the 2007 decision.

The ad hoc committee – composed of 3 individuals from Slovakia, France and New Zealand – reportedly found that there was a procedural lapse when the first set of arbitrators allegedly failed to allow Fraport to produce documents pertaining to agreements among Piatco shareholders.

These secret agreements between the Filipino shareholders (the Cheng family) and the foreign partner (Fraport) discussed how the German firm, which took care of most of the financing requirements during the building phase, would eventually assert financial and managerial control of the airport facility.

The Philippine Constitution and the Anti-Dummy Law require that only Filipinos could control a public facility such as an airport terminal.

Gov't to continue operating NAIA 3

Meanwhile, the government will continue to operate NAIA 3 despite the nullification of the ICSID decision that Fraport and Piatco violated the Anti-Dummy Law, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Monday.

“We maintain and continue to possess NAIA 3. The decision in Washington— first of all, we do not have a copy yet—but our understanding, it was more procedure than substantive. So it will not affect our right of possession on NAIA 3."

Lacierda said Malacañang is hoping that NAIA 3 will be fully operational within this year.

Costly battle

The legal cases that have hounded NAIA-3 have made this terminal facility one of the government’s most expensive – if not the most expensive – legal battle.

The Arroyo government has hired individuals and a foreign law firm with expertise in international arbitration proceedings. Aside from Fraport’s $425 million suit (est. P18 billion) at ICSID, Piatco also made a $565 million compensation claim (est. P25 billion) before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Singapore.

Last July, barely a month after the Aquino government took over, ICC handed a decision in favor of the Philippine government.

Based on several accounts, the Philippine government, through different agencies, has spent about P2 billion since the local and international cases commenced in 2003.

Bolstered by the ICC decision in July 2010 and ICSID’s in 2007, the Aquino government has been proceeding with efforts to settle the “just compensation” issue with Piatco and Fraport. Talks between the government, Piatco and Fraport are part of the local court-supervised valuation of the terminal building.

The Aquino government hopes to complete the repair of some parts of the facility that are not strong enough to withstand tremors, and to fully operate the terminal by end-2011.

After repairs have been completed, the transportation department plans to bid out the operation and management of NAIA-3 to a private firm.

But as legal and compensation issues remain pending, Piatco continues to assert itself. It has asked the tenants, including Cebu Pacific, one of the two local airlines operating at NAIA-3, to remit lease payments to Piatco or face eviction. - With a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News

Palace loses NAIA 3 case, but insists it owns airport (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/296234/palace-loses-naia-3-case-insists-it-owns-airport)

By GENALYN D. KABILING
January 3, 2011, 5:57pm

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government still owns and operates the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 despite losing an arbitration case in Washington DC, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the decision of an Ad Hoc Committee in Washington which reportedly cleared the airport builders of charges of violating the antidummy law was “more procedural than substantive.”

Lacierda, speaking to Palace reporters, said the government ownership of NAIA-3 is bolstered by a ruling of the International Chamber of Commerce-International Court of Arbitration in Singapore, favoring the government in the arbitration case against the airport builders.

“Remember that the Singapore decision has not been reversed. We received a legal victory in Singapore so it does not affect our right to possess and operate NAIA-3,” he added.

Reports claimed that the Ad Hoc Committee in Washington has nullified the findings of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) that the airport builders violated the anti-dummy law.

Lacierda, however, insisted that the government will continue to run the passthe modern terminal following the favorable ruling from the Singapore court. The Singapore decision prevented the government from paying nearly $1.1 billion to the complainants.

“There is a Singapore decision and Piatco (Philippine International Air Terminals Co.) was the complainant in that Singapore decision,” he said.

“We’ve won already so it’s just an issue of how much are we suppose to compensate the operators, the previous operators,” he added.

Meantime, Lacierda said the government is still studying when the NAIA-3 will be fully operational amid ongoing repairs of the terminal. At present, the controversial terminal is limited to some operations of international and domestic flights.

“There are problems in maintenance. These are being fixed. In fact, we’re in the process of repairing some of the areas which were found to be defective,” he said.

He said the timetable of the full operations of NAIA 3 will be disclosed by Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus.

The government seized the terminal in 2004 following a Supreme Court decision voiding the Piatco contract to build and operate the terminal. The investors went to the World Bank to recover the hundreds of millions of dollars that it reportedly invested in the airport.

In 2008, the airport terminal was partially opened.

the decision seemed to have been brought by technicality, not by the weakness of the government's case:

"there was a procedural lapse when the first set of arbitrators allegedly failed to allow Fraport to produce documents pertaining to agreements among Piatco shareholders.

These secret agreements between the Filipino shareholders (the Cheng family) and the foreign partner (Fraport) discussed how the German firm, which took care of most of the financing requirements during the building phase, would eventually assert financial and managerial control of the airport facility."

And it goes ON and ON and ON...........

From the Erap Admin, 2 Gloria terms, and now it's PNoy's turn.

Back to Square 1.

God Have Mercy, is it wrong to ask for a decent airport?

Share ko lang from my recent trip:

NAIA 2

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs998.snc4/77126_178099745534512_100000034632794_632580_7068252_n.jpg


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1172.snc4/154449_178099692201184_100000034632794_632579_2440494_n.jpg


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs485.ash2/75798_178099625534524_100000034632794_632578_8070886_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs480.ash2/75321_178099525534534_100000034632794_632575_3927536_n.jpg


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs955.snc4/74833_178099468867873_100000034632794_632574_3440312_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs480.ash2/75298_178099042201249_100000034632794_632570_6256140_n.jpg

ung comfort room ok naman..malinis at mabango:D

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1194.snc4/154632_178099122201241_100000034632794_632571_1813853_n.jpg

better than what you have in portland

bahahaha. you wish. biggest bs you've ever said to me among the other bs that frequently comes out of you. too bad your constant effort to insult Oregon becomes futile in this case because Portland Int'l Airport is actually one of the nicest looking airport in the country. i hope you enjoy the photos of PDX. here's a start:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4842364895_a6d2b80315_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35614822@N08/

Oh no! Not again!!!! This time, both Arroyo and Aquino are blamed on all these..:rofl:


For crying outloud!! they should just give the terminal back to Piatco and Frapport. Arroyo never reinversed the builder like her administration keeps on saying for the last 2 or 3 years of her term yet, no compensation was ever reimbursed to the appropriate party. Even if the Philippine government won these arbitrary courts in Washington and Singapore, they still have to pay the builder. I can tell it's all about money and it's all about compensating the builder. If I'm the builder, I would not be stupid to just give it up for free, I would still need to be compensated. The economy has been growing ( so the claimed), how come an appropriate fun has been set aside? Arroyo keeps on claiming that the government have funds set aside for these in a Philippine Bank, how come they never released these???


And it goes ON and ON and ON...........

From the Erap Admin, 2 Gloria terms, and now it's PNoy's turn.

Back to Square 1.

God Have Mercy, is it wrong to ask for a decent airport?

I agree on this one.

Seing all those Photos and videos above, it's heart breaking that we see the terminal within the reach yet we can't really true touch or feel it.... My main concern is for convinience, I don't care if other forummers thinks it's ugly and thirdworldish, while other see it as heaven...... I just need the convinience of a spaceous and atleast decent looking surrounding.

bahahaha. you wish. biggest bs you've ever said to me among the other bs that frequently comes out of you. too bad your constant effort to insult Oregon becomes futile in this case because Portland Int'l Airport is actually one of the nicest looking airport in the country. i hope you enjoy the photos of PDX. here's a start:



NO offense but, I think you're equally as guilty of an overly excessive and sometimes exaggerated criticism. While I agree with you that Kintoy made a wrongful and excessive criticism about PDA because there is no way PDA is aweful looking than NAIA T3 but the fact that you even agreed on a newbie who sounded like a troll was wrong either.

My take on NAIA T3 issue is just simple, I do not see it as eyesore, I would agree with you that MIAA can do a much better job than these if only they chose to use their heads and not their asses when brainstorming, NAIA would of been a much pleasing airport now. Things work real slow in the Philippines, including the remodelling of the interior of terminal one, the government ( Arroyo and Aquino) are slow in taking actions inspite of the previous news that the Philippine panel won the arbitrary courts in Washington and Singapore, we all knew that all it takes for this New/old terminal to be fully operational in time for the transfer to private sector is for the government finally release funds to compensate the builder, no more no less, this is why there have been noises whistling up in the air, those who needs to be compensated are not being compensated? What? They honestly believe that the Philippine government can get away with a freebie airport??? I don't think so.... PAY UP, that is all there is to it!!!

the decision seemed to have been brought by technicality, not by the weakness of the government's case:

"there was a procedural lapse when the first set of arbitrators allegedly failed to allow Fraport to produce documents pertaining to agreements among Piatco shareholders.

These secret agreements between the Filipino shareholders (the Cheng family) and the foreign partner (Fraport) discussed how the German firm, which took care of most of the financing requirements during the building phase, would eventually assert financial and managerial control of the airport facility."

I'm sure there are this party who would create a noise to get noticed and then get compensated. This is one of them. I firmly believe that the arbitrary courts in Washington and Singapore worked in favor of the Philippines. Still, inspite of all these, the same as what I've mentioned above. The Philippine government should release the fund they have been talking about even back in Arroyo administration to the builder.

^^Just give it back to Fraport and Piatco let them manage it and take the risks. Anyway, the gov't may still use its regulatory powers just in case Piatco and Fraport would abuse their ownership. It's been dragging on for too long. We cannot afford to let that terminal be closed again.

I am just not sure what was stated in the amended contract signed by Erap and Piatco before because it might have provisions for sovereign guarantees like the MRT and other disadvantegeous provisions. If that is the case, then we're really at a loss there.

As for the money, I think the previous administration has already paid a downpayment of Php3B in 2006 and the rest would be paid after the cases have been won. That makes sense because you cannot pay someone who doesn't even want to show how much they really spent. Hindi naman siguro tayo tanga para magbayad ng isang bagay ng hindi alam ang totong presyo, diba? This requires an appraiser. Too bad, the other case was lost.

^^ I fully agree!

I did not hear anything about that 2006 downpayment though, I would be glad to hear if they actually did these. Now, it's probably the rest of the compensation these people or companies have been asking for. I'm pretty sure they would still create noises, they are a bitter losers if you ask me, too bad, they engaged in illegal dealings. Arbitrary courts made their judgements already, they should abide by these.

^^In December 2004, the Philippine Government expropriated the terminal project from PIATCO through an order of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC). However, the court only allowed the Philippine Government to take over the terminal upon payment of an initial amount of PHP3 billion (approx. USD64 million) to PIATCO. The Philippine Government formally paid PIATCO the said amount on the second week of September 2006.

source: wiki (I'm too lazy to look for news articles :D)

OT:

^^megawatt12a, how come our number of posts been dwindling down, i mean you had like 900 posts before then now you're down to 52??? I was like in 640+ and now im down to 293? lol whats goin in here, i dont mean to be nosy about this shit but just wondering why...? is there any specific regulations here about postings? hehehe funny though.... :lol:

^^when the threads are closed and transfered to the archives, your posts there are automatically deducted from your current posts.

@ Spearhead - I know, I've noticed that? Could this be the sign???? Mayan Calendar prediction along with sudden deaths of hundreds of birds in Arkansas that fell down from the sky as well as the mysterious death of fishes in westcoast??:shocked: he he kidding.


@Le Reine, thanks for refreshing my memory on that one and the info on why our posts appears to dwinding down.

Just go to to other threads. (hint: jeepney and the malls thread) ;)

Just look at what he posted at Metro Manila Malls today. :ohno:

Nah i think he's just being negative really.... just let him spit out all his frustrations then wait til he learns how to flow with the traffic here.... actually, there are dozens, if not hundreds of other expats like that here, i was like that too when i first joined this forum. :cheers:

NO offense but, I think you're equally as guilty of an overly excessive and sometimes exaggerated criticism. While I agree with you that Kintoy made a wrongful and excessive criticism about PDA because there is no way PDA is aweful looking than NAIA T3 but the fact that you even agreed on a newbie who sounded like a troll was wrong either.


I've stopped haven't I? Despite that, I will keep to my word. Regardless of whether or not you believe in my newspaper story, I can't change the fact that it was my experience. Just because it seems too absurd, doesn't make it untrue.

I agree with the noob because he's right. Does it look glamorous to you? Well, not to me. To me, it's the definition of plain. It looks unfurnished and just plain... plain. I mean I wouldn't dislike this airport if it wasn't as bad as it is. There would be no reason for me to. At the same time, I can't praise it. Because again, there's no reason for me to.

^^when the threads are closed and transfered to the archives, your posts there are automatically deducted from your current posts.

What? Oh that doesnt sounds fair hehehe. I mean, sometimes, our number of posts are part of our pride of how long we've been here or how active you are. Is that even relevant? You were a moderator here, maybe you can do something about this. Thank you. :cheers:

I know, I've noticed that? Could this be the sign???? Mayan Calendar prediction along with sudden deaths of hundreds of birds in Arkansas that fell down from the sky as well as the mysterious death of fishes in westcoast??:shocked: he he kidding.


shet 1 more year to go!!! :lol:

^^Sorry, the mods can't do something about it. That's part of admin instructions and they also made the system run like that.

I've stopped haven't I? Despite that, I will keep to my word. Regardless of whether or not you believe in my newspaper story, I can't change the fact that it was my experience. Just because it seems too absurd, doesn't make it untrue.

I agree with the noob because he's right. Does it look glamorous to you? Well, not to me. To me, it's the definition of plain. It looks unfurnished and just plain... plain. I mean I wouldn't dislike this airport if it wasn't as bad as it is. There would be no reason for me to. At the same time, I can't praise it. Because again, there's no reason for me to.

You shouldn't of mentioned that newspaper issue, that was history. I've completely forgetten about it until now :lol::lol:

It's not that I am disagreing with the newbie, he has some valid points, it just is overly critical and exagerrated. Glamourous is an exessive expectation on a terminal where massive number of people come in and out, it's not a hotel or a theather showcasing hollywood celebs right??? I don't think I am expecting you to praise it at all, the criticism is still considered exagerrated. I do see unpleasing parts of T3 however, I also see areas that are eyepleasing.

Glamourous is an exessive expectation on a terminal where massive number of people come in and out, it's not a hotel or a theather showcasing hollywood celebs right???

oh okay. well tbh, i thought that's what you guys expected from this airport. well, imo it should have been. lost to an incompetent government.

sayang naman ang NAIA Terminal 3. dapat napapakinabangan na natin yan ngayon, for it is the BEST airport terminal that we have in this country. :(

^^Just give it back to Fraport and Piatco let them manage it and take the risks. Anyway, the gov't may still use its regulatory powers just in case Piatco and Fraport would abuse their ownership. It's been dragging on for too long. We cannot afford to let that terminal be closed again.

I am just not sure what was stated in the amended contract signed by Erap and Piatco before because it might have provisions for sovereign guarantees like the MRT and other disadvantegeous provisions. If that is the case, then we're really at a loss there.

If the gov't gives back T3 to PIATCO, paano na yung mga onerous contracts before, will these still be honored or bago na naman?

I think Fraport has already learned its lesson in doing business in the Philippines and they don't want operational control of T3 anymore, they just want their $425 M back. Remember that Fraport has already written down its entire investment in T3 way back in 2002.

As for the money, I think the previous administration has already paid a downpayment of Php3B in 2006 and the rest would be paid after the cases have been won. That makes sense because you cannot pay someone who doesn't even want to show how much they really spent. Hindi naman siguro tayo tanga para magbayad ng isang bagay ng hindi alam ang totong presyo, diba? This requires an appraiser. Too bad, the other case was lost.

Yup, nagbigay na ang Gov't ng P3B "downpayment" transferred by a Land Bank account and received by PIATCO and Fraport. IIRC, walang nakuha ang Takenaka sa inital payment na ito.

Also, IIRC again, the issue of "just compenstation" is already in the hands of the Pasay court hearing the case, diba nag commission sila ng independent assessing firm para malaman how much ang iccompensate ng Gov't sa PIATCO. Pero kawawa din naman yung PIATCO, kahit ganon sila. Hindi pa sila 100% fully paid (minus the bukol et. al.) eh ginagamit na ito ng PHL.

For me, ang dapat ginawa ni Madam GMA noon, Takenaka claims its spent P $250M ++ to construct T3 (which is what is stipulated in their contract with PIATCO), dapat ganong kalaki na binayad ni CGMA noon sa PIATCO/Fraport, tapos yung balance ng tongpats, bukol, etc, yun nalang ang paguusapan :D

Tapos diba dapat daw hindi expropriation case ang kaso na sinampa ng PHL sa PIATCO kasi in the first place, government land na yung tinatayuan ng T3, ejectment case daw dapat. And the list of controversy goes on and on and on...

Ang pinakamalungkot dito, the people responsible for all these mess might never get punished/jailed.

bahahaha. you wish. biggest bs you've ever said to me among the other bs that frequently comes out of you. too bad your constant effort to insult Oregon becomes futile in this case because Portland Int'l Airport is actually one of the nicest looking airport in the country. i hope you enjoy the photos of PDX. here's a start:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4842364895_a6d2b80315_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35614822@N08/

It looKs like a warehouse

:hilarious

the best glamour shot you can find, and it still looks like a warehouse. tsk tsk

look for em yourself. ;) i said it's a start, didn't i? besides, we both know you don't really mean that. seeing as how NAIA T3 is the one that truly looks like a warehouse. :)

i'll file it together with your fake astro pictures :D

PDX is actually a nice airport. Better than SEA in my opinion and far better than LAX. Taking the west coast airports into account, I would only rate SFO better.

German envoy wants negotiations on NAIA-3

GERMANY'S AMBASSADOR urged the new administration on Tuesday to resolve the ownership dispute over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) by mediating talks among the conflicting parties including the German government, which is the project guarantor.

German Ambassador Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch said negotiations are needed as a decision at the International Center for Settle of Investment Disputes in Washington could still be a long time coming.

"To this day no final judgement has been passed on the controversial deal. At the present pace the legal dispute could continue for years, leaving the urgently needed infrastructure project shelved by lawyers instead of being finished by engineers," Mr. Weber-Lortsch said in a statement.

"As a way out of this [impasse] I am still optimistic that the new administration, in line with its investment priorities, will bring the parties involved to the negotiating table in order to facilitate a legal, fair and timely solution for an inherited problem," he said. -- Jessica Anne D. Hermosa

http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=23847

Mwg12a:

Before you claim that my post was overly critical and exaggerated,
please tell me (or anyone tell me) where the billions of dollars
extorted in 'terminal fees' has gone?
What has the airport/government spent this money on?
Has it invested/spent more heavily on the Manila -Ninoy Aquino airport than any other governments around the world have invested/spent on their respective airports?

If it has not spent more on its terminals than other foreign airport authorities spend on their airports, what is the point of 'terminal fees' (apart from supporting the lavish lifestyles of the corrupt).

By the way, Portland airport looks stunning judging by that photo.
Manila - Ninoy airport is OKish but certainly has not got the wow factor of other numerous Asian airports.

ho-hum

http://www.nickandnicolewedding.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/portland-airport.jpg

http://columbiariverimages.com/Images/portland_international_airport_from_rocky_butte_2005.jpg

http://s3.amazonaws.com/posts.cellspin.net/posts/16867/2008/12/09/full_5aeef38b773e502a1c8fa04bda23ceaa.png

I wonder what this latest twist in the T3 case will mean to the start of ANA's operations in T3.

If the gov't gives back T3 to PIATCO, paano na yung mga onerous contracts before, will these still be honored or bago na naman?

I think Fraport has already learned its lesson in doing business in the Philippines and they don't want operational control of T3 anymore, they just want their $425 M back. Remember that Fraport has already written down its entire investment in T3 way back in 2002.



Yup, nagbigay na ang Gov't ng P3B "downpayment" transferred by a Land Bank account and received by PIATCO and Fraport. IIRC, walang nakuha ang Takenaka sa inital payment na ito.

Also, IIRC again, the issue of "just compenstation" is already in the hands of the Pasay court hearing the case, diba nag commission sila ng independent assessing firm para malaman how much ang iccompensate ng Gov't sa PIATCO. Pero kawawa din naman yung PIATCO, kahit ganon sila. Hindi pa sila 100% fully paid (minus the bukol et. al.) eh ginagamit na ito ng PHL.

For me, ang dapat ginawa ni Madam GMA noon, Takenaka claims its spent P $250M ++ to construct T3 (which is what is stipulated in their contract with PIATCO), dapat ganong kalaki na binayad ni CGMA noon sa PIATCO/Fraport, tapos yung balance ng tongpats, bukol, etc, yun nalang ang paguusapan :D

Tapos diba dapat daw hindi expropriation case ang kaso na sinampa ng PHL sa PIATCO kasi in the first place, government land na yung tinatayuan ng T3, ejectment case daw dapat. And the list of controversy goes on and on and on...

Ang pinakamalungkot dito, the people responsible for all these mess might never get punished/jailed.

Regardless of the final outcome, the following are the sure losers in this if this doesn't get resolved ASAP:
(a) our relationship with Germany; it's only going to get colder
(b) the prospect of foreign airlines setting-up shop within the year
(c) the Philippine economy because foreign investors would perceive the Philippine government as a bully
(d) the Philippine taxpayer because they will end-up footing a higher bill for compensation (and legal fees); of course as it stands they will foot the bill anyway but it can be lower if it gets resolved now

^^Sorry, the mods can't do something about it. That's part of admin instructions and they also made the system run like that.

Cool. :cheers:

Slightly OT:

T2 and T3 set the standard for Philippine airports and IMHO, I consider them as already world-class (or kahit somehwat close to it). Pero with regards to T1, sobrang EPIC FAIL ang departure area nito.

As of December 23, 2010, 05:00 am
Lalo na sa mga banyo. Overflowing yung ihi sa dalawang toilet tapos barado yung ebak sa kabila. Anu ba iyan?!?!?!? :bash: :ohno:

Dammit, sobrang EPIC FAIL naman yun and akala may on-going renovations and/or improvements sa T1(?_ Puro sa arrival area lamang ba ang pagbabago???

Nakakadismaya talaga. Heck, I think talo pa ata tayo against Taiwan. Right now, on-going ang renovations sa Taipei Taoyuan Airport Terminal # 1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101402.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101403.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101404.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101405.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101406.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101407.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101408.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101409.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101410.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101411.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101412.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101413.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/blackcyborg009/Vacation%20pics/Taiwan%20%20Hong%20Kong%20%20Macau%20-%20December%202010/Taiwan%20-%20December%202010/231220101414.jpg

Yung T1 natin sobrang naiwanan na pati rin ng Taiwan airport Terminal 1. Well, in any case, sana na hindi na mangyari uli ang ganitong kahihiyan sa NAIA Terminal 1 Departure Area.

Yun lang ang masasabi ko.....

From Newsbreak:

Why ICSID annulled a 2007 ruling favoring the Philippines (http://www.newsbreak.ph/2011/01/04/why-icsid-annulled-a-2007-ruling-favoring-the-philippines/)

Download the Dec. 23, 2010 ICSID ruling here (http://www.newsbreak.ph/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Annulment-Decision.pdf)

^^

PNoy certainly didn't start the problem but it is upto him to start the real solution.

^^ I agree. I think the potential PPP investors will look closely how will P.Noy will handle the T3 saga.

-----

Anyway, another news article:

Fraport’s $400M investment mystery (http://www.malaya.com.ph/jan05/busi1.html)
BY EVANGELINE DE VERA

Fraport AG, the German partner in the Terminal 3 project, will have to prove it indeed spent $400 million to build the facility if it decides to engage the Philippine government in another round of arbitration before the Washington-based International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.

It should also be ready to dispute evidence in the hands of the Philippine government that it owns, through "cascade," 60 percent of the joint venture company, Philippine International Airport Terminals Corp. (Piatco), in violation of the constitutional limitation on foreign ownership in utilities.

"Fraport does not come with clean hands before the ICSID," a lawyer familiar with the case said.

In its original complaint, Fraport alleged that the Philippines violated the terms of a bilateral investment agreement with Germany when the latter voided the built-operate contract covering the additional terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The complaint was dismissed by ICSID on Aug. 16, 2007. But on review, an ad hoc committee vacated the 2007 ruling in a decision issued last December 23.

The latest ruling said the ICSID failed to provide enough opportunity for the parties to comment upon the evidentiary record before the DOJ Special Prosecutor in the anti-dummy criminal proceedings against Fraport and Piatco.

Charged by the DOJ were Cheng Yong, majority owner of People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing which is the main local partner in Piatco; Jefferson Cheng of Philippine Airport and Ground Services; Piatco president Henry Go; Oscar Lopez Dee of Equitable Banking Corp. Investments Inc.; Rolando Esguerra of EBC; Remy Tigulo of SB Capital Investment Corp.; Tony King, Nilo Pena, Antonio Pacis and Jose Perpetuo Lotilla of SyCip Law; and Fraport’s Wilhelm Bender and Bernd Struck.

Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz said the government retains the right to reassert all of its defenses against Fraport’s claims, including its arguments relating to the foreign firm’s violation of the anti-dummy and anti-graft laws.

Cadiz said the December ruling merely provided Fraport another opportunity to commence a new arbitration and to present its claims again. Likewise, the government is entitled to present the evidence against Fraport anew.

"The ‘annulment decision’ does not validate any of Fraport’s claims and does not result in any liability against the Republic… Should Fraport choose to re-file its treaty claims, the Republic therefore will call upon Fraport to disclose the evidence of its expenditures on the terminal and will call upon Fraport and the German government to produce all of the evidence relating to the project seized by German prosecutors from Fraport and from the offices and homes of its officials and former officials," he said.

He was referring to Fraport’s claim that it spent $400 million to build the terminal, which was found to suffer major defects.

Government investigators have collected evidence that Fraport spent only $40 million, raising questions on where the $340 million went.

Assistant Solicitor Nestor Bellocillo, while in possession of the documents showing the $40 million spending, was shot dead along with his son near the city hall of Paranaque City. The case is unsolved to this day.

Earlier, Pasay City RTC Judge Hendrik Guingoyon who was trying a case involving Piatco was also killed near his home in Cavite. Like the murder of the Bellocillos, the killing of Judge Guingoyon also remains unsolved.

When Piatco bagged the contract to finance, construct, manage and operate a world-class airport facility under the build-operate-transfer law, Fraport undertook an initial public offering (IPO) which led to a fraud investigation by German authorities.

In 2003, the Supreme Court declared the contract void ab initiation amid allegations of huge kickbacks and payoffs which resulted in the bloated contract price of the facility. The Court likewise ruled that the State may only takeover the facilities after payment of just compensation to the consortium.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council subsequently turned up documents indicating that some Fraport officials in the Philippines were keeping accounts suspected to contain laundered money.

The name of Lilia Cheng, wife of a Piatco principal, was in the list of names of Fraport officials. The Cheng family is now reportedly residing in Australia.

To encourage domestic tourism and investments, airport terminal fees should be abolished. The airport administrations have plenty of other revenue sources to recover the 'foregone' revenues of terminal fees. Passengers include the expensive cost of terminal fee in deciding whether to visit a particular place or not.

With this additional cost to passengers, there should be fewer than potential number of passengers that actually fly. Which adversely affect domestic tourism, domestic trade and investments.

There is no sign that the Ninoy-Aquino airport is benefiting from terminal fees. Infact airports in countries which do not charge such fees are better maintained and pasengers better served.

Airport authority financial mismanagement and corruption contributes to ruining the economy so with that type of mismanagement the Philippines will suffer as a third world country for many decades to come.

Regardless of the final outcome, the following are the sure losers in this if this doesn't get resolved ASAP:
(a) our relationship with Germany; it's only going to get colder
(b) the prospect of foreign airlines setting-up shop within the year
(c) the Philippine economy because foreign investors would perceive the Philippine government as a bully
(d) the Philippine taxpayer because they will end-up footing a higher bill for compensation (and legal fees); of course as it stands they will foot the bill anyway but it can be lower if it gets resolved now

Very good assessment @hybridace. I am really more worried on the impact of this in the Philippine economy if they are perceived as a bully. This would definitely send a negative impact in the international community.

SolGen says int’l body’s ruling did not say PH should pay Fraport
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 21:56:00 01/04/2011

Filed Under: agreements, Air Transport


MANILA, Philippines— Solicitor General Anselmo Cadiz on Tuesday said the decision of an international arbitration body on the construction and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 was based on a procedural ground and did not say that the Philippine government should compensate Fraport AG Frankfurt Worldwide Services.

Cadiz said that the ad hoc committee’s decision did not say that Philippine government should compensate Fraport.

“Rather the decision merely provides Fraport the opportunity to commence a new arbitration and to present its claims again. Likewise, the Philippine government is entitled to present the evidence against Fraport again,” the chief state lawyer said.

An ad hoc committee of the US-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) annulled on December 23 the ICSID Award of August 2007 based on the Committee’s conclusion that the ICSID Tribunal failed to provide enough opportunity for the parties to comment upon the evidentiary record before the DOJ Special Prosecutor in the Anti-Dummy Law criminal proceedings.

Fraport is the primary investor in PIATCO, which bagged the contract to construct and operate the NAIA Terminal 3.

“With the annulment decision, the parties are brought to the situation prior to the filing of Fraport’s request for arbitration,” Cadiz clarified.

Since 2002, the construction and operation of the NAIA Terminal 3 have been the subject of a string of civil and criminal investigations due to allegations of violations of Philippine laws by PIATCO and Fraport.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee issued a report in December 2002 concluding that the Terminal 3 concession was void because PIATCO violated the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law and attempted to buy government approvals through a consultant.

Then, in 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that the Terminal 3 concessions were null and void ab initio due to PIATCO’s violations of the Constitution, BOT Law, banking laws and public policy.

To encourage domestic tourism and investments, airport terminal fees should be abolished. The airport administrations have plenty of other revenue sources to recover the 'foregone' revenues of terminal fees. Passengers include the expensive cost of terminal fee in deciding whether to visit a particular place or not.

With this additional cost to passengers, there should be fewer than potential number of passengers that actually fly. Which adversely affect domestic tourism, domestic trade and investments.

There is no sign that the Ninoy-Aquino airport is benefiting from terminal fees. Infact airports in countries which do not charge such fees are better maintained and pasengers better served.

Airport authority financial mismanagement and corruption contributes to ruining the economy so with that type of mismanagement the Philippines will suffer as a third world country for many decades to come.

These has been discussed before. I believe in other airports all over the world, the terminal fee is waved on each individual passengers, but, it doesn't mean we are really off the hook. I believe they charge the airline companies so, indirectly, airline passengers all over the world still pay for the use of the terminal which is included in their airfares. I hope someone would help me explain all these because I am not 100% sure yet.


Some of the fees the passengers paying for the use of NAIA facilities goes to salaries of personnels, maintenance which I understand fail in T1 miserably but some of it goes to supplies, janitorial services, minor repairs and such. Part of it also is used to fund projects in other airports in the Philippines which I assume is budgeted per regions on case to case basis. Other airports have better facilities because of the market there and the economy which understandably, the Philippines is lacking. We can't really compare NAIA to the neighboring asian countries most especially as most of those terminals we see like Korea, Japan, Singapore, HK etc are all international hubs of different international airline companies and that their terminals are transit point where as NAIA is an end point of travel. It makes a big difference.

I'm sure those who have a much better understanding about all these would give their input on these, I was just mentioning how I understand how things work.

^^ Pero the Supreme Court ruling was very clear: No exercise of ownership rights until full compensation is paid...pero parang ngayon, inangkin na ng PHL yung T3 at parang wala nang balak bayaran ang PIATCO/Fraport.

@Hybridrace: You're right, the biggest loser here is the Philippine taxpayer.

^^ Yeah, I do wonder what is holding the Philippine government to fully compensate FRAPPORT. Considering the arbitration court voted in favor of the Philippine government, they still have to compensate the expenses Frapport covered for T3 construction. It's just a matter of making an agreement as to what is approriate price of the terminal acceptable for both Frapport and the Philippine government, then set up a payment plan. Arroyo government has been dealing with it with deaf ears, Aquino govern seems to be continuing with the same approach.

Let's just pay the money and move on. T3 badly needs to be fully operational NOW.

^^ I agree. By the time the lawyers sort out this mess, hindi na napakinabangan fully ng mga Pinoy ang T3.

ICSID's recent decision is the headlines of many broadsheets ngayon.

---

Germany wants NAIA-3 row settled (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=645383&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)
Updated January 05, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - German Ambassador Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch called on the administration yesterday to do away with the “ghosts of the past” created by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) and to bring the parties to the negotiating table.

In a statement, Weber-Lortsch said the Supreme Court has ruled that no acts of ownership are allowed until full payment of just compensation by the government to Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) and its investors.

“Thus present operations and tenant agreements on NAIA 3 are considered illegal, as the parties involved including the German government reserve all rights and waive none,” he said.

“As a way out of this impasse, I am still optimistic that the new administration, in line with its investment priorities, will bring the parties involved to the negotiating table in order to facilitate a legal, fair and timely solution for an inherited problem,” he said. “It is time to look forward and do away with the ghosts of the past.”

Weber-Lortsch said the unresolved expropriation case of NAIA 3 remains the largest impediment to negotiations.

“Since my arrival in August 2007, I have committed myself to bring business and jobs to the Philippines,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the largest impediment to this day remains the unresolved expropriation case of the NAIA 3 terminal,” he added. “Not only for German, but also for European and other international investments. The German government, through its partial investment guarantee, suffered the biggest loss of its kind in the last years.”

Weber-Lortsch said the government’s failure to compensate a German contractor for its expropriation of the $650-million NAIA 3 had adversely affected relations between the Philippines and Germany.

“German businessmen have been naturally stung by the airport expropriation,” he said.

Weber-Lortsch said the government’s takeover of NAIA 3 led to the loss of millions of dollars.

German-owned Fraport is the primary investor in Piatco that procured the concession to construct and operate NAIA 3.

De Jesus: No effect on NAIA 3

Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus said government efforts to open the NAIA Terminal 3 will not be affected by the recent decision of the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Speaking over radio dzRH, De Jesus said the ICSID ruling does not have any effect on efforts to open the terminal to full international and domestic operations.

“The point of view of the DOTC which was tasked to fast-track the completion and full operationalization of the NAIA 3 by President Aquino, is that (ICSID case filed by Fraport AG) is part of the legal process that is going on in parallel with our effort to open, to complete the NAIA 3,” he said.

NAIA 3 is being partially operated, mainly serving the domestic and international flights of local budget carriers Cebu Pacific Airways, PAL Express and Air Phil Express.

De Jesus said the decision allows the hearing of the case to proceed against the government.

“We’re proceeding accordingly,” he said.

“We’re in discussions with the contractor for the completion, the testing and commissioning of the NAIA 3.”

De Jesus said the DOTC plans to finally open NAIA 3 to full commercial operations by yearend.

“Unless there are legal interruptions, disturbances, we aim to finish that by the end of this year,” he said.

Ochoa: It’s back to zero

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said it was “back to zero or back to square one” for Fraport.

Sources said the pieces of evidence against Fraport submitted before the ICSID were intact, and that the case against it was strong.

If Fraport decides to file another case, the government could present more evidence on how it violated the local laws in conducting business in the country, sources added.

Malacañang is studying various proposals, according to sources.

Sources said a recommendation was made to enter into negotiations with Fraport for the compensation, which could also repair ties with Germany.

However, sources said these were all suggestions for now, and that the government would be ready to prove its case against Fraport if it wants to proceed with another case before the ICSID.

Ochoa said the ICSID decision essentially meant that procedures were not followed in a case involving Fraport.

The Dec. 23 decision voided the Aug. 16, 2007 ruling of ICSID, which barred Fraport from filing any claim for compensation because it violated Philippine laws to win the contract for NAIA 3.

Ochoa said ICSID ruled that Fraport was not given the chance to fully submit evidence so it reversed its August 2007 decision.

“The net effect of the decision is we were back to square one,” he said. “Back to zero.”

Ochoa said the government’s position was that the expropriation proceedings on NAIA 3 were favorable to the Philippines, and that just compensation would be determined based on evidence. Ochoa sees no more reason to return NAIA 3 to its builders.

“The rules of expropriation are once the government files its expropriation proceedings, it is already entitled to possession,” he said.

“There is only a requirement of deposit of so much amount, those are the rules there. So that was done even before our time and so NAIA 3 was operated partially. Meanwhile, while the government is there, the owners or the contractors, would have to claim payment as only recourse. And that is also subject to the same case of expropriation.”

Ochoa said the government would not appeal the ICSID decision because it would not affect its possession of NAIA 3.

“Yes, (operations) will continue. It has no effect as far as we are concerned. That decision has no effect in the operation of NAIA 3,” he said.

Cadiz: Decision has no impact

Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz said the ICSID decision was based on a procedural ground and had no impact on the merits of claim for compensation by Fraport.

“Rather, the decision merely provides Fraport the opportunity to commence a new arbitration and to present its claim again,” he said.

“Likewise, the Philippine government is entitled to present evidence against Fraport again.”

Since 2002, the project to construct and operate NAIA 3 has been the subject of a string of civil and criminal investigations due to alleged violations of Philippine laws by Piatco and Fraport.

In May 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that NAIA 3 concessions were void from the beginning due to Piatco’s violations of the Constitution, Build- Operate-Transfer Law, banking laws and public policy.

Subsequently, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money Laundering Council initiated criminal investigations against Piatco and Fraport officials on charges that they violated the Anti-Dummy Law and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In August 2007, ICSID dismissed Fraport’s bid to collect $425 million from the government after the German firm was found to have violated the Anti-Dummy Law in a complaint lodged by the Philippines.

In late July, an arbitration before the International Center of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce similarly dismissed Piatco’s claims due to violations of the Anti-Dummy Law.

Aquino: EO on open skies out this week

President Aquino said yesterday that the executive order on pocket open skies in four secondary international airports would be out this week.

“We’re just re–affirming the case, and I don’t have the list of the airlines that have already signified their interest to enter into this new avenue,” he said.

Aquino said the new EO will modify EO 219 allowing a liberalized air policy as early as 1995.

“Our national development requires promoting an open and competitive international aviation sector that enables Philippine and foreign air carriers to expand their operations, maintain a strong Philippine-based aviation industry, and ensure international connectivity in order to allow Philippine and foreign air carriers to plan and make long-term investments in the Philippine market,” he said.

Aquino said the EO will focus on secondary gateways and that local airline operators would have exclusive rights to fly domestic routes.

Airlines would not be allowed to carry passengers between two domestic points, he added.

De Jesus said the EO will cover international airports in Cebu, Davao City, Zamboanga City and Laoag City.

The EO was drafted by a committee comprised of representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Justice, the DOTC and the National Economic and Development Authority, he added.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim had suggested the adoption of an open skies policy. — With Rainier Allan Ronda, Aurea Calica, Edu Punay

^^ Pero the Supreme Court ruling was very clear: No exercise of ownership rights until full compensation is paid...pero parang ngayon, inangkin na ng PHL yung T3 at parang wala nang balak bayaran ang PIATCO/Fraport.

@Hybridrace: You're right, the biggest loser here is the Philippine taxpayer.

I think the contract of NAIA Terminal 3 has an international arbitration clause. It's not for the local court to meddle with but to assist on the final ruling.
Does the latest ICC Singapore ruling on Terminal 3 still stands?
Lagyan lang ng PIATCO ang SC ng Pinas, pag hindi nanalo kaagad sila. :D

The PNoy, and Arroyo administrations don't get it: NO ownership rights can be exercised until the compensation issue is settled and the parties are compensated. If the Philippine government loses, 5J and the other tenants will consider the Philippine government the biggest fool for letting them set-up shop in something that was not theirs to lease in the first place.

ho-hum

http://www.nickandnicolewedding.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/portland-airport.jpg

http://columbiariverimages.com/Images/portland_international_airport_from_rocky_butte_2005.jpg

http://s3.amazonaws.com/posts.cellspin.net/posts/16867/2008/12/09/full_5aeef38b773e502a1c8fa04bda23ceaa.png

that parking garage has since been renovated. plus you chose photos (last one in particular) with the same crappy quality you tend to post. i mean, was that taken randomly or something? what the hell? :lol:

oh and like i care if you believe those astro photos or not? there's no reason wasting time answering the dumbass questions you kept asking when i gave you the link to what taught me how to do it. :|

Palace: Gov’t to continue operating Naia 3 (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110105-312576/Palace-Govt-to-continue-operating-Naia-3)

By Christine O. Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:57:00 01/05/2011

MANILA, Philippines—Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on Tuesday said a decision by a US-based arbitration body put back to square one the case filed by Fraport AG Frankfurt Worldwide Services against the government.

But Ochoa said it would not affect an earlier decision that denied the demand of the German firm for compensation from the Philippine government for building the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3.

Ochoa said the government would continue to operate Naia 3 despite the decision made by an ad hoc committee of the Washington-based International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

“That decision has no effect in the operation of Naia 3,” Ochoa told reporters after attending with President Aquino the turnover rites for the new Navy chief at the Navy headquarters in Manila.

Explaining the ICSID ruling, Ochoa said the arbitration body merely said Fraport would be given the chance to support its evidence in its claim for compensation from the government because not all the procedures were done before.

“So the net effect in that decision is that we are back to square one. Back to zero,” the executive secretary said.

Ochoa said that before this ruling, the ICSID ruled in 2007 that the Philippine government had no obligation to pay Fraport, which he described as the creditor of the Philippine Terminals Corp. (Piatco) consortium.

Piatco was the one the government contracted to build the terminal, he said.

Asked what would happen next, Ochoa said the government would continue to settle the issue on just compensation for the construction of Naia 3.

In a statement, Solicitor General Anselmo Cadiz said the decision by the ICSID ad hoc committee had “no impact on the merits of claim for compensation” by Fraport.

“Rather the decision merely provides Fraport the opportunity to commence a new arbitration and to present its claims again. Likewise, the Philippine government is entitled to present the evidence against Fraport again,” he said.

“With the annulment decision, the parties are brought to the situation prior to the filing of Fraport’s request for arbitration,” Cadiz said.

The Aquino administration will ask Fraport to submit its expenses for the construction of the terminal if the German firm decides to file a new case against the government, he said.

“Should Fraport choose to refile its treaty claims, the (government), therefore, will call upon Fraport to disclose the evidence of its expenditures on (Naia 3),” Cadiz said in a statement.

The government may also ask Fraport and the German government to present all evidence “relating to the project [documents] seized by German prosecutors from Fraport and from the offices and homes of its officials and former officials,” Cadiz said.

Cadiz said the government was likewise entitled to present the evidence against Fraport again.

Related News:

What went before (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110105-312577/What-went-before)

oh okay. well tbh, i thought that's what you guys expected from this airport. well, imo it should have been. lost to an incompetent government.

Have you actually seen the interiors of T3 before you make a quick judgment how bad it is?

I was there back in February and structure wise - it feels like any airports in America. In fact, it reminds of Terminal 4 in JFK. The interiors are more spacious in person than what these pictures are telling you. It just needed a lot of fixes and good taste.

^^when the threads are closed and transfered to the archives, your posts there are automatically deducted from your current posts.

lol thanks for this...now I know....heheheh i was thinking I'e been here since 05" and my post should be 5-6x than what is shows lol :lol:

[QUOTE=Kamionek;69984519]To encourage domestic tourism and investments, airport terminal fees should be abolished. The airport administrations have plenty of other revenue sources to recover the 'foregone' revenues of terminal fees. Passengers include the expensive cost of terminal fee in deciding whether to visit a particular place or not.

I believe that most locales incorporate their fees into the ticket price. It should be done here too. Why subject passengers to another line waiting to pay?

Have you actually seen the interiors of T3 before you make a quick judgment how bad it is?

I was there back in February and structure wise - it feels like any airports in America. In fact, it reminds of Terminal 4 in JFK. The interiors are more spacious in person than what these pictures are telling you. It just needed a lot of fixes and good taste.

If I am not mistaken, does the design of T3 mimic SFO's international terminal? The fact that a brand new terminal needs fixes and remodels for things like lounges says a lot.

Other than that, it's a fine terminal.

[QUOTE=Kamionek;69984519]

I believe that most locales incorporate their fees into the ticket price. It should be done here too. Why subject passengers to another line waiting to pay?

A lot of the procedures here are implemented to ensure that the fees are actually collected. Nobody trusts anybody here so I'm sure the gov't doesn't trust the airline companies to actually transfer the actual collected amounts from ticket sales.

If I am not mistaken, does the design of T3 mimic SFO's international terminal? The fact that a brand new terminal needs fixes and remodels for things like lounges says a lot.

Other than that, it's a fine terminal.

It really is a fine terminal from architectural standpoint. Well, what can we expect from a more than a decade old terminal that was place in use just recently + all the anomalies made when the airport was built? I just wish all the legal hurdles will be already solved.

question guys, has anybody noticed if there are already new Customs officers manning the customs booth sa NAIA 1? thanks...

In fact, it reminds of Terminal 4 in JFK. The interiors are more spacious in person than what these pictures are telling you. It just needed a lot of fixes and good taste.

It'll be the toughest undertaking ever to get done on Terminal 3, harder than paying out appropriate settlements to the parties involved in this debacle of an airport terminal.:nuts:

http://i52.tinypic.com/2ryk1es.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/2b32ih.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/10o3dr4.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/302awy8.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ywcqjn.jpg

^^ I'm lovin' the photos you've been taking. Awesome vantage shots! :okay:

It'll be the toughest undertaking ever to get done on Terminal 3, harder than paying out appropriate settlements to the parties involved in this debacle of an airport terminal.:nuts:

Let's start with how ayala malls are designed and use something similar with NAIA 3. The possibility is always there.