Elevated train to link 3 Naia terminals

Construction and engineering firm Megawide Construction Corp. has committed to building a 5-kilometer elevated railway that will link the three terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), a feature required by the government to consider granting a 25-year concession to a proponent from the private sector. .

Megawide, which got a second chance at the coveted modernization project after the former consortium of tycoons withdrew, vowed to remove the stigma that Naia was among the “worst airport” in the world and turn it into an “airport wonder.”

Now under attack from parties questioning its ability to undertake the P109 billion rehabilitation and the role of its foreign partner, India’s GMR, Megawide is optimistic about winning the Naia airport concession deal. If an agreement is finalized, this will be its second airport infrastructure project after Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

In an interview, Edgar Saavedra, president of Megawide, said that the group had only been given up to 10 days to match, at a minimum, the basic framework desired by the government for the Naia concession that the former proponent did not accept. Megawide obtained original proponent status for the Naia project after accepting the framework.

During negotiations with the previous proponent, the Department of Transportation was willing to extend the concession term to 25 years from 15 years if the proponent built an elevated railroad. This was one of the features that became a deciding factor during previous negotiations with the former proponent, but Saavedra said it would be feasible. For a 4-5 kilometer railway, similar to the airport railways seen at most modern airports abroad, the projected cost is around P10 billion.

While such a railroad has yet to be built, Megawide has committed to immediately implementing a bus rail system to boost connectivity within the terminals.

“As the first and last impressions that foreign Filipino workers and visitors will have of the Philippines, Naia itself should offer a positive and unforgettable experience that people can match with their stay. We are not only rehabilitating an airport, we are creating a new symbol for the country, ”said Louie Ferrer, Megawide’s executive director for infrastructure development.

In creating the architectural design for Naia, Megawide was inspired by some of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines.

For example, the proposed architectural design for the transformation of Terminal 1 is inspired by the 2,000-year-old rice terraces of Banaue. The central landscape, called “Hagdan” (staircase) is a sunken garden reminiscent of terraces.

These terraces are continued on the upper levels of the new parking and commercial building in front of the existing terminal designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin. The landscape and the new building are conceived as a dedicated area for supporters and passengers waiting for their flights. This common space took into consideration the united culture of the Filipinos, Ferrer said.

A transparent canopy stretches between new and existing buildings, providing protection from the elements. Lattice wood detailing pays homage to Filipino weaving patterns and is seen to accentuate the multi-level walkways connecting the two buildings, creating a spectacular backdrop for people strolling through the area. This new feature is designed by Integrated Design Associates (IDA) Hong Kong, the same architectural firm that designed MCIA Terminal 2 and the new Clark International Airport Passenger Terminal Building.

Originally designed to handle 30 million passengers per year, Naia handled 48 million in 2019. The Megawide-GMR upgrade proposal will increase Naia’s current capacity to 65 million passengers per year through a strategic and phased approach. INQ

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