 |
|
Outmoded
Airports Anybody who has traveled to another country, even just within the region, would get the sense that the Philippines has one of the sorriest, most pitiful and most frustrating airports in the world. And to think we even want to be a tourist hub in the region. For starters, let's look at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). This is a big insult to the memory of the man who fought a dictator. To ferry his luggage from the airport entrance to the ticket check-in counter, a passenger departing from NAIA has to contend with and use an already aging cart with rusty lining and wheels that seem to want to break free. The line leads to an inspection point manned by harassed (or harassing) airport personnel who have to conduct security checks manually and at times half-haphazardly because we lack those all-important state-of-the-art detectors. Queues toward airline counters are as long and confusing due to a lack of space within the terminals to move around. You have to be good at controlling your bladder if you can't leave your place in the line. It could be a better idea to use the plane washroom where there is sure to be toilet paper. On the return trip, upon arrival at NAIA, the same long lines form as soon as you get out of the tube. In the queue for immigration, better have a book handy to while away time. After immigration, you have to contend again with those tired, worn-out carts and wait and watch the slow squeaky carousel disgorge the luggage and balik-bayan boxes. Don't be surprised if your new luggage looks so worn-out from the usual (mis)handling. The poorly designed and maintained amenities for NAIA passengers, however, are just half the story. Airports, after all, are not just the passenger terminals but also runways, taxiways, and docking bridges for the commercial aircraft. Antiquated and too cramped for comfort What we now regard as our biggest gateway airport to the world is in fact antiquated and too cramped, so much so that the world's biggest airplane to be launched by Airbus in the spring of 2006 may not be able to land in NAIA at all. This is one reason why the government is pushing hard to develop the Clark Airport as the next international gateway (conveniently located right smack in the President's bailiwick). The former US military airbase has existing facilities that could accommodate any type of aircraft including the giant Airbus two years from now. The Airbus 380 is a 550-seater, double-decker mammoth that is supposed to fit in any airport where any Boeing 747 can land. Our NAIA has enough space to fit in the Airbus, but not enough to be able to move it around. People from the European aircraft maker are saying that some reconfiguration needs to be done in the NAIA to allow the giant Airbus 380 to taxi and dock. But I seriously doubt if, given our legislature's contentiousness and budgetary problems, there would be enough time for NAIA to raise funds to finance any modification of facilities. As to be expected, NAIA is not in Airbus lists of 60 airports suitable for use. Of the long list of foreign airlines that have ordered the $300-million aircraft, only Emirates Airlines is planning to fly Airbus 380 to the Philippines by 2008. That is if we can accommodate it. Additional charges for security Recently, NAIA officials announced that they want to slap another $5 per passenger to pay for enhanced security in view of heightened security alert. Why should air travelers be charged for added security precautions when this should have come from our taxes? In the same manner that government secures seaports and mass transport systems, then it must also provide the same level of security for air travelers without charging an additional fee. Besides, our authorities claim that our airports have passed the security audit conducted by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) last May. Based on the TSA review, NAIA and even the domestic airport passed the security assessment and audit that effectively placed the Philippines on America's list of airports that are supposedly not vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Looks like the absence of modern security detectors was not a factor after all. Had NAIA failed the test, foreign governments particularly the US may tell their airlines not to land on Philippine airports. Even Philippine Airlines that regularly flies to the US and other foreign destinations could have been banned from touching down. There is some comfort in knowing that NAIA passed a security audit, but this doesn't absolve airport authorities from the responsibility of upgrading airport facilities nor give them the right to collect higher terminal fees. "Breaking Barriers" with Tourism Secretary R. Pagdanganan "Breaking Barriers" on IBC-TV 13 (11 p.m. every Wednesday) will feature Secretary Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan of the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday, 18th August 2004. For the global
economy and for many other countries, tourism is big business. According
to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the business of
tourism is a major generator of wealth and jobs. Estimates of total
world demand for travel and tourism services will reach US$4.9 trillion
this year, while total direct employment in the travel and tourism
sectors will reach about 70 million jobs, and total direct and indirect
employment at 200 million jobs. The budget deficit on TV "Isyung Kalakalan at iba pa" on IBC News (5 pm, Monday to Friday) ends today with a discussion of the government's growing budget deficit. For several years now, the bureaucracy is spending much more than it is earning. Tax collection is being outpaced by the growing loan payments, the cost of government employees' salaries and wages, and infrastructure spending. The President is calling for additional taxes but there seems to be strong opposition to it. For one, huge tax leaks continue to be unresolved. Watch it. Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reygamboa@linkedge.biz. If you wish to view the previous columns, you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz.
| |||
|