NEW TERMINAL AT PHILIPPINES' NINOY AQUINO INT'L AIRPORT READY.

MANILA, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The ultra-modern and deluxe Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 is now ready for takeoff on December 15 as the world's newest international air terminal.

Granite floors, overhead lights of the brand new NAIA 3 reflected as baggage conveyor moved and airline ticketing counters lit up as the terminal came to life during the walk-through inspection recently.

The dry run was witnessed by government officials headed by DOTC Undersecretary Agustin Bengzon; Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Commissioner Andrea Domingo; NAIA 3 general manager Col. Guillermo Cunanan; MIAA project manager Emer Bonoan; Clarissa Coscoluela, chief of staff and representative of Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon; Director Jesus Versoza of the Aviation Security Group.

Also present were Toshio Hori, manager of Takenaka Corp; Daisuke Fukamachi, Takaneka project manager; Victor Cheng Yong and Jeffrey Chen; chairman and president, respectively, of Philippine International Air Terminal corp. (PIATCO); John Appleton, PIATCO contractor.

Hori pointed out that it took his company 832 days to finish the project, out of the allowed 882 days, adding, "There would be 10 additional days to inspect for possible defects."

He said his company, which also constructed nine airports in Asia, finished NAIA 3 "in a very short time compared with other airports, such as those it built in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok."

Takaneka Corp. has been in existence for the last 400 years, making it the oldest construction company in the world. It also belongs to the top 10 contractors in the world.