DOTC, Takenaka signed MOU to make NAIA Terminal 3 fully operational

Delivery of 23 airport system part of the agreement to hasten full operations of T3

Nearly a decade after its original inauguration date, the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may soon be fully and completely operational.

This after the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Takenaka Corporation signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) considered as the first legal step to make NAIA T3 fully operational.

Part of the MOU is the “Civil Works Agreement (CWA) Estimate of 23 Systems,” which covers the delivery of 23 airport systems critical to make T3 fully operational. Both parties agreed to execute the CWA within 30 days from the date of execution of the MOU.

“We would like to thank Takenaka Corporation for both being thorough and sincere in negotiating with us,” Secretary Mar Roxas said. “It was their cooperation that this deal was signed in record time.”

The 23 airport systems include Baggage Handling and Reconciliation System, Flight Information Display System, Building Management System, Local Area Network, Fire Alarm and Protection System, and Passenger Loading Bridges.

Takenaka was the original contractor commissioned by Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) to build NAIA 3 in 1998. However, construction at the T3 was halted in 2002 after allegations of anomalies cropped up.

Wanting to finally utilize the T3, DOTC began negotiations with Takenaka Corp. Once completed, the 182,500 square meter terminal would have the capacity to service up to 33,000 passengers daily at peak or 6,000 passengers per hour. It also has 34 air bridges and 20 contact gates, allowing it to service 28 planes simultaneously.

Some of the operations of T1 will be transferred in T3 once the 23 systems are delivered. This will result in decongestion of passenger traffic in T1 for a more convenient and efficient air transport system.

Takenaka is among the so-called big five contractors in Japan. The family enterprise has built some of the most important buildings in Japan, such as the Tokyo Tower, the Tokyo Dome, the Fukuoka Dome, and the Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, among others.