An infrastructure dream

Traveling abroad and returning back home for most Filipinos almost always leads to a feeling of sadness that while our neighbors continue to progress, our country seems to move at a snail’s pace in terms of infrastructure.

To be honest, the only excitement about infrastructure projects in recent years has been due to the private sector projects undertaken by Ramon S. Ang – the Skyway, the TPLEX extension, the takeover of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s operation, and the construction of the new Bulacan international airport project.

Likewise, infrastructure projects by the MVP Group and the Aboitiz Group are the bright spots that the country can reasonably expect good progress on, although even such projects are constantly plagued by right of way (ROW) problems.

Government projects, on the other hand, well...we’re still waiting for foreign counterpart funding, resolution of ROW issues (especially those involving illegal squatters), delayed project approvals, project revisions, a constant change of government overseers, and continued corruption.

At the recent Infrastructure Forum held by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, I basically heard the same plans for the country’s internet and infrastructure project from the new DICT and DOTr secretaries, but only with the update on the additional cost of completing their projects and nebulous completion targets.

I cannot help but feel sad that I may probably not see, nor experience, in my lifetime the Philippines attain the level of connectivity that our Asian neighbors have.

I would want to be able to travel and explore more of our country in the same way that I have been enjoying spending my vacations in Japan where even seniors like me can easily use their subways, and underground shopping malls and passageways, railways and airports. All because such facilities truly take into account the important aspect of accessibility and connectivity.

Starting from their airport, Japanese infrastructure planners/ designers always think of connectivity and accessibility to facilitate the movement of people. Their major airports are linked to their railway and subways so that people can easily go to the city, or further to their hometowns or provinces.

Providing mobility for seniors or those who are handicapped are also addressed with escalators and elevators. And most importantly, they provide toilet facilities that have running water and are kept clean so that the people are not forced to do their business in unwanted places.

This is one major difference that our government continues to fail to address – adequate toilet facilities and escalators or elevators for easy access to seniors and handicapped persons. The excuse for the lack of such facilities is the cost of installing and maintaining them, which should not be the case.

The railway connectivity of Japan is truly admirable, allowing foreign tourists to easily travel on their own to see the Land of the Rising Sun and visit small cities and towns that are off the beaten track, thus, helping local tourism.

I myself have never experienced riding our local railway system, not in my childhood or even when I was working. All of my local travel was by air or by ship. Thus, I am absolutely clueless about how to travel locally by railway.

On the other hand, I thoroughly appreciate the Japanese, American and European railway systems that have allowed me to explore more of Japan than I have of my own country, or even of America and Europe.

In fact, one of the chief complaints by foreign tourists to our country is the lack of connectivity, especially since we are an island nation. Prior to the takeover of the SMC consortium of NAIA, foreign visitors had to deal with the chaotic problem of transferring from the international arrivals to domestic departure or vice versa.

Thankfully, in a couple of years, we will finally have a connected international and domestic airport in Manila.

Subway access or even light railway connection is still a dream. Again, if not for the vision of RSA, the Skyway and the NAIAX may not have been in existence to facilitate land traffic from and to the airport.

Likewise, it is the Japanese government that is helping us achieve our subway dream through the Metro Manila Subway project. I hope that I will still be mobile enough to see that day when the subway project becomes operational and I can still experience it for myself. Knowing that the Japanese government is involved in the project, they will ensure that elevator access is provided for the elderly, handicapped, and those carrying luggage.

I am also keenly watching the progress of the restoration of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) project in the city, but so far I all I have noticed is land preparation, but no actual construction of infrastructure so far.

Sea connectivity, at least for me, has been a hassle. Even in my younger years, when I was still actively engaged in scuba diving, commercial sea travel was difficult as most of the dive destinations did not have adequate port facilities.

I have enjoyed sea cruises to other countries, but again never in the Philippines. I remember though that there was an attempt of promote and develop a local cruise in the Philippines that even visited the Ilocos region. Unfortunately, there was not much interest, knowing the lack of adequate port facilities to accommodate and service big cruise ships, with horror stories from foreign visitors who complained about the chaotic port arrivals and departure, and again the lack of adequate transportation connectivity to get to their accommodation in the city.

My Philippine infrastructure dream will have to remain much longer, and in the meantime, I will just admire our Asian neighbors and enjoy their countries and facilities more than I can in our island nation.