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MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, which she called the ?gateway to our country and to the rest of the world.?
?It?s a showcase for tourism and economic progress. It?s a result of our resolve to move this nation forward,? Arroyo said in a brief speech after planing in from Cebu at the NAIA 3 where she was welcomed by Lucio Tan of Philippine Airlines and Lance Gokongwei of Cebu Pacific.
Also present were several Cabinet officials, legislators, ambassadors, and heads of travel agencies.
Arroyo has inspected the airport?s check-in counters and three departure lounges.
With its smooth opening on Tuesday, officials said NAIA 3 would start servicing international flights by next month.
Manila International Airport Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi said local carrier Cebu Pacific has committed to begin using the terminal for its regional flights by early August.
Cusi said NAIA 3 could accommodate Cebu Pacific's 28 international flights a day.
Officials said that international flights in the newly-opened airport would begin in six months, although NAIA 3 task force head Michael Defensor said the airport was ready to handle international flights with the continuous improvement in the system.
International operations would coincide with the inaugural flights of Philippines Airlines express and Air Philippines using the airport.
NAIA 3 opened on Tuesday with Cebu Pacific servicing domestic flights.
Cusi said the transfer of the country's main flag carrier, PAL, and Air Philippines "completed the start-up scenario" of Terminal 3.
"With its opening, hopefully it would change the outlook of the world on the Philippines," he said.
Defensor also said NAIA 3 would continue operations despite legal obstacles.
"The cloud of legal turbulence is slowly going away," he said.
But the government still has to comply with the full payment to the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (PIATCo) that built the facility after releasing an initial P3 billion pesos last year.
