We need a new airport more than ever

The nightmare being experienced by thousands of passengers after a Xiamen Air passenger aircraft skidded off runway 06/24 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Thursday continues as of this writing despite the successful extraction of the 43-tonne aircraft with the use of cranes. Early reports say the aircraft “mis-approached” during its attempt to land amidst heavy downpour that made visibility poor, which might have affected the pilot’s view of the runway.

Authorities initially said the runway will be reopened on Friday but they have since extended the “deadline” several times as extraction proved difficult with the problem compounded by the intermittent rains. The delays have caused hundreds of international and domestic flights to be cancelled, with airlines trying to pacify frustrated and irate passengers.

The chaotic situation really underscores the difficulty of having only one operable runway for big airplanes, with many recalling the incident in May last year when a 2.5-meter long pothole along the main runway caused several hours of delay, and then in July again when two potholes were discovered during inspection, causing dozens of flights to be delayed or diverted to Clark International Airport and even to Davao. 

All these problems that have been plaguing NAIA – with congestion, inefficiency and aging infrastructure and facilities – have been neglected for so long. But as usual, we only react when the proverbial crap hits the fan, so to speak.

I know there are plans by the Duterte administration to resolve these issues involving NAIA but perhaps it is more urgent now for the government to consider building a new airport. Obviously, this will take some time but at least people can look forward to a modern, state-of-the-art international airport a few years from now. 

The unsolicited proposal of San Miguel Corp. president and COO Ramon Ang to build an “aerotropolis” in Bulacan – which has been awarded original proponent status by the National Economic and Development Authority – makes more sense more than ever because of the Xiamen aircraft incident. Transportation Secretary Art Tugade also said NAIA’s remaining lifespan might only be 10 years due to congestion and the technological advancements in aviation.

The P700 billion SMC proposal is envisioned to solve airport congestion and other problems, and enhance the travel experience of visitors considering the fact that we are trying to attract more tourists. Even Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez was open to the idea of the Bulacan airport provided it is financially viable – and SMC says they have the funds to go it alone.

Perhaps now there will be less opposition to the proposal because it is obvious that we need a state-of-the-art airport that is compliant with global standards. Even in the US, airports are upgrading their facilities – and to think many of them are already highly developed. For instance, La Guardia Airport in New York is going through an $8-billion makeover expected for completion by 2021. Passengers have been complaining about poor facilities, cramped terminals, flight delays, and limited shopping and dining choices. 

The fact is, passenger traffic is continually rising and the travel market is evolving, with travelers requiring a lot more for their comfort and convenience. No doubt the travel industry is a key driver of the economy, which is why authorities should really focus on solutions to the long-standing problems involving NAIA.

As usual, Filipino humor never fails, with a joke now going around that the Xiamen plane arrived at the wrong destination – because the pilot was supposed to land at the airport that the Chinese built in the Spratlys.

Empowering LGUs

Many parts of Metro Manila were submerged in flood water last week as the southwest monsoon (“habagat”) heightened by tropical storm Karding (Yagi) dumped heavy rains for more than 24 hours. Among the hardest hit was Marikina City, with close to 70 percent of its land area inundated by flooding.

Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro quickly mobilized local government resources and utilized social media to provide advisories, deploy rescue boats, and organize relief and clearing operations, among others.

The local government unit received a lot of praise for its quick action and its efficient handling of the calamity. People were impressed by the evacuation centers with modular tents that gave evacuees privacy and dignity despite the circumstances. Netizens dubbed Marikina City “a model of disaster preparedness” that others could learn from, because it shows what LGUs can do if they really focus on the needs of their constituents and develop solutions to problems that plague their communities.

Many say the recent flooding is one of the reasons why the president is right in advocating federalism, because it would empower the regions and enable local governments to take care of their problems without having to be always dependent on “imperial Manila.” 

This point was previously raised by Bicol congressman Nonoy Andaya, saying the current system created a “Manila-dependent situation” akin to “mendicancy” especially on the issue of disaster risk management. 

For instance, request for funds needed to repair a school building in a remote area would have to pass through the Manila office of the concerned agency, with a lot of paperwork and bureaucratic processes involved. Under a federal system, an LGU would be able to utilize its resources for its own disaster management program the way it sees fit. 

This actually makes sense because we have 81 provinces, 145 cities, 1,489 municipalities and 42,036 barangays with their own disaster risk-related problems and issues. Through federalism, the work for disaster risk management could be devolved and therefore implemented faster, leaving the central government free to focus on national concerns.

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