THE recent signing by the Philippine government of the 2009 Multilateral Agreement on Air Services that will give airlines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) rights to operate between capital cities in the region is most welcome. As Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya says, it will “enhance regional trade and investment opportunities for Philippine businesses, as well as provide Filipino individuals better access to job and educational opportunities in the Asean region.” But there is a fly in the ointment.
The agreement will allow airlines to fly from their country to a foreign country without the foreign country government’s approval, as well as fly between two foreign countries during flights originating and ending in the carrier’s home country. Such expansion of flying rights over Asean will facilitate the integration of the region. It will also enable Asean travel organizations to market Asean as a single tourist destination.
The problem, however, is that as most everyone knows, especially the officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), we have only one airport and it is an extremely small one, barely able to accommodate the current volume of traffic, least of all the expanded volumes that the new agreement is expected to bring about.
The protocols took years to be signed despite the DOTC’s and the DOT’s preference for early action because other officials were deterred by the inadequacies of our airport facilities. The observation of these officials is accurate and also comical. As reported: “What’s the point in saying ‘we’re open’ only to tell the airplane that is trying to land, ‘sorry, we have no space for you.’”
Earlier, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines showed us their attitude on the matter by expressing wonderment as to why airlines “insist on arriving and departing at the same time.”
We know the solutions because they have been discussed publicly ad nauseum: expand and modernize Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3, and open new airports, in particular, Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
The debate on what form the expansion of Terminal 3 should take should now be terminated. Bid out existing plans and allow construction work to commence. With respect to Clark Air Base, begin building the infrastructure that will link it to Metro Manila. This action will not only make operating from Clark Air Base attractive to international airlines, but also contribute to the acceleration of development in Central Luzon.
There is another reason we must expand and modernize our Metro Manila airport. Right now, Naia Terminal 3 is the ugliest, most decrepit and backward airport in this part of the world, a monumental embarrassment to the whole nation. If we do not remedy this backwardness, we shall be enjoying under the agreement privileges for which we shall be offering nothing in return.
We have work to do to reap the benefits of this agreement. We need to save our face to our neighbors and the world.
Image credits: Benjo Laygo
1 comment
NAIA 3 more decrepit than NAIA 1 and 2 ?????