‘Bagong Luma’

The building is the gateway to the new center of power in the Philippines. People of influence and power in the world of politics, religion and business walk through its doors on a daily basis. This building welcomes ambassadors, CEOs, and other foreign dignitaries and investors. And when the powerful and influential visitors leave the new center of power, their experience inside the building is their last impression of Davao. Unfortunately that impression is a very poor reflection of Davao and has become an embarrassment for Davaoenos.

“Bagong Luma” or the new gone old is how the Davao International Airport looks, feels and smells. Upon arriving at the Davao airport the first comment a passenger made was about the heat and the absence of air-conditioning which I was told has been a problem even before Rodrigo Duterte became President. Given how we were all in a hurry to get to our vehicle, I really didn’t pay much attention to the heat or absence of air conditioning. But on my return flight to Manila I saw several problems after passing through the second x-ray for domestic passengers on the second floor. The first eyesore was the carpet in the domestic departure area that was old and filthy with so many stained areas they looked as if they were part of the design. As you begin to take in that ugly picture, you get hit by the heat along the corridors and the two sub-par restaurants that were even hotter than the corridors. Given how hot it gets in Davao, you can imagine how hot the windowless Davao airport terminal gets. The only air-conditioned area were the waiting area at pre-departure and the exclusive members-only Mabuhay lounge. The corridor was also inadequately lit maybe so that people won’t notice the old and stained carpet.

Considering how many VIPs, diplomats and government officials have been passing through the Davao International Airport, one would expect that the DOTr or airport authorities would be paying close attention to this facility. But when I saw a broken chair just hanging over the side along the corridor in full view of passengers it became instantly clear that facilities management is one of the weak points of the people in charge of the place. Not only did they fail to repair the broken seat, they even left it for everyone to see. While writing this piece I also saw a “janitress” sweeping the floor with a “walis tingting” because passengers simply left their garbage on the floor or seats because there were only two garbage cans servicing an average of 300 people!  I don’t know which of the two was the bigger concern; the janitress using a walis tingting to sweep the carpet or the limited number of waste baskets? As we sat glumly with no alternatives, a blind masseur would walk by, softly calling out to the tired and weary to consider having a massage. Had he called out louder he would have completed the “Marketplace” experience: Bagong Luma na parang palengke pa.

* * *

If you visit Davao City in the near future what you will notice immediately is the traffic and the impact of the 30/60 kph speed limits inside and outside the city which has resulted in longer travel times. Unlike other cities, don’t expect to fly in zip and zoom to your meetings and visits then fly out. In Davao that would be called pushing your luck. There are a number of on-going road works and major bottlenecks if you are planning or heading north to Tagum or south to Digos. Then there are the vehicle checkpoints that can delay you by as much as 30 to 45 minutes depending on the time and day you get there. Putting all of these together, what I learned from my last trip is that you have to plan for traffic and a longer stay in order to get business done. So the next time security guards in Metro Manila ask you to open your trunk, be grateful its a 10-second delay and not half an hour.

I hope Davao authorities can study the “task force” running the checkpoints because it needs serious improvement, better management and more manpower because the current solution to prevent terrorism is creating a problem called major traffic and economic loss. Even the 30kph speed limit that was implemented to save lives and minimize accident should be reviewed because there might be better solutions through engineering or technology to prevent accidents without having to increase the difficulty of doing  business and longer travel time.

* * *

Before the Philippines hosts the Miss Universe Pageant, it might be wise for the Secretary of Tourism to speak with her DSWD counterpart so they can figure out how to deal with street urchins and professional beggars. I was shocked to discover that as early as 5:30 in the morning, a number of women with babies were begging for alms very near NAIA 1 and 2. Such a sight will certainly leave an unsavory memory or impression on foreign tourists. I hope a better and long lasting solution can be found and that the poor people won’t be boarded up, bussed out or kidnapped to a resort outside Manila so nobody sees them. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

* * *

In the new reality of Traffic 24/7 the planners and analysts at the MMDA might want to study or review the current 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. truck ban because the morning rush hour now starts as early as 5:30 or 6 a.m. As a result the trucks are still on the road competing with cars for the limited road space. Trucks should also be banned from parking and waiting out the truck ban on the expressway or major roads because they take up one lane. The same goes for taxis that park along EDSA by the Dasmariñas village. 

* * *

Email: [email protected]