Saturday, May 26, 2007 Airport's Japanese builder plays deaf to plea to finish facility
PHILIPPINE transportation officials accompanying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Japan have asked officials of Takenaka Corporation to finish the repairs on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 immediately but have failed to elicit any specific response from the contractor.
Alfonso Cusi, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) who was part of the Philippine delegation to Japan, said he met with officials of Takenaka and expressed to them the Philippines' concern about the "unfinished and unsafe Terminal 3."
Cusi, in an interview after the President's arrival in Manila, said Takenaka officials were told that the delay in the repair work of the Naia 3 is "doing a great disservice to the Filipinos."
"We asked them that this has to be completed immediately and we have to do everything to make it operational the soonest time possible," he said.
He said the officials of Takenaka did not make any specific response to the Philippines' expression of desire to complete the terminal.
Cusi refused to discuss the steps that the Philippine Government would take, citing "courtesies" to the other parties who "should get it from us directly rather than from the news."
He only assured that government will do everything to complete the terminal and make it operational soon.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier said the government is preparing to level charges against Takenaka Corporation for the "shabby job" that it did at the facility. He said if Takenaka is charged, government would have to contract another group to repair the terminal.
An assessment by consultants TCGI Engineers Co. and Ove Arup and Partners HK showed that the facility could only withstand an Intensity 4 quake and could collapse in the event of an Intensity 6 quake.
Cusi has said the Miaa has referred the matter to the government's legal team led by Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera for study.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza has said the repairs would take another four to six months after which the terminal would be inspected again. (JMR/Sunnex)
